[mycologos]

You also had to have substantial personal resources to do research, at least in the 19th century. Going back to that system would probably reduce the number of people doing science for the wrong reasons, but it would also strongly reduce the number of people doing science at all.

[saalweachter]

I mean, it's well within possibility for you to spend 20 years as SWE earning six figures, and then retire early to be an independent researcher.

As long as you are happy to explore a field that doesn't require millions of dollars of equipment and aren't competing for fame, there's nothing stopping you.

[temp329192]

I'm looking forward to it.