Here's the big difference: 90% of people with quantitative skill sets and strong self-motivation that spend thousands of hours learning how to code don't LOSE money. Basically none of them do. If you only make it to the top 40% of your industry, you can still make a reasonable income, instead of losing until you make it to the top 1% just to make a pittance. Instead of losing money every time you get sick, you'll have healthcare and paid time off. Instead of the crushing stress of downswings and losses there will be the normal stress of working a job or a contract. There is a chance that in 5 years, which might be only a couple years after you become profitable, bots shut down online poker and it absolutely dies leaving you with NOTHING. All your work to dust. Your pio sims wont be worth shit. Otoh, software developers are increasingly in higher and higher demand and command a bigger salary. It's a skill set that's never going away. A resume that only gets bigger over time. A career that allows for innovation, independence, and working from home. No risk, no rake. You think you can make it to the top 1% of your industry? Then choose one that will actually pay out.

from one of the top 0.01% who made it, please listen to this beautiful comment