[throwaway22032]

Well, sure, I pretty much hate programming now.

It took less than five years of it to essentially retire though, we print money. As far as I can tell salaries are now generally higher than they were for me plus there are more jobs about.

Compare against the opportunity cost. I don't really know anyone in a career that hasn't had to put in the same effort (e.g. dollar for law/medical school) that isn't just completely screwed with 0 money and no hope of ever owning anything.

I've taken for granted the fact that OP wants to like, have a decent life at some point rather than being a wage slave forever.

[codingdave]

That experience, of retiring in 5 years, is not the norm. At all. It does happen, and it makes good stories to tell, and people in SV get it often enough that it can seem common. But it is not the typical story of a coder in the rest of the USA.

I have no idea where OP lives, or where they intend to live, but banking on hitting that story is exactly what I am arguing against. Because there is zero guarantee for any specific person to live that path.

[throwaway22032]

Sure, and someone who's going to MIT is not a "typical coder in the rest of the USA".

It's like life expectancy. A 20 year old in a developed country has a far higher life expectancy than a child at birth in Somalia. You can completely discount the vast majority of the group.