I was curious. I knew software dev would be in there and it's my wheel house.

Engineer/Software Dev/Normal Office Worker. Do good work at a no-name mid-sized company for a few years to build up good working relationships and tribal knowledge. Leave on good terms with a handshake agreement that you can return in a few years as long as they still have room for you. Call it a "sabbatical".

So he worked for a few years first. Not the 1-2 years this has talking about. His value is relationships and tribal knowledge, neither help him get a job at another company if the no name company goes under. Left that company with nothing but a promise that you might be able to come back... And if he can't, welp that's going to be rough.

This seems line a VERY unstable future.

Also if these people are making 6 figures in 6 months I don't see the govment helping them with Healthcare. And living in a van it doesn't seem easy to have a network. Raising a kid like that also seems kinda messed up, they don't get to develop those social skills...