I don't fully subscribe to this train of thought; I believe the pie is big enough for everyone. Now I don't have a definitive answer on why some make it and some dont, obviously, and not sure if anyone does.
I suspect that most other failed devs are indeed working at a 9-5 but looking to get the F U money from a side project and enjoy life, at least that is my situation. Also FU money is relative, I am not looking for 1B, just a small 3M nest egg is enough for me to retire.
I have been building and failing multiple websites/mobile apps since 2006. To this day, I don't think I could ever be in that situation of creating something that somehow takes off.
Theres gotta be a place for failed web/mobile app developers to get together and figure out a way to make it, anyone know of such a place?