[Apocryphon]

And many have indeed adapted, by becoming rent-seekers or engaging in hustles to try to optimize over the rat race- hence the types of behaviors you denounce.

The market is far too irrational and complex to assign essentiality based on salaries or valuations.

You seem to be bringing up the hoary "learn to code" lesson, but plenty of people trying to make money in crypto or achieve FIRE are former coders themselves. In their view, they upgraded their skills.