[HeatrayEnjoyer]

For #1 and #2, what reason is there to doubt them? I have a couple of friends doing OF/SW and this isn't incongruent with their experience or what gets discussed in the community. I generally trust what people say in communities of people in the same domain sphere (i.e. discussion on HN about which software platforms are easier or harder to implement).

Most people don't subcontract their job either, even if it could increase their overall income.

[prepend]

The same reason there is to doubt anything a stranger says on the internet. People have egos and sometimes tell lies to inflate their egos.

I generally distrust anything people say in communities that supports some personal cause (ie positive comments about their employer, or negative comments about their enemy, etc)

[HeatrayEnjoyer]

That didn't really answer my question.

Misanthropic attitudes are not useful or actionable.