[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.