The blur I see is that one could argue the defining feature of indie startups is not that they're "independent" but that they're a reaction against rocket ship

The blur I see is that one could argue the defining feature of indie startups is not that they're "independent" but that they're a reaction against rocket ship startups (startups in the sense that most VCs in Silicon Valley define it). If that's the defining feature of an indie startup, that it's counter to a regular startup, then being self-funded is only one of many ways that indie startups can differentiate themselves. All that said, I think the information from the interview itself _is_ valuable. As long as Indie Hackers doesn't become flooded with non-indie startup stories, and as long as the readership is aware that the lessons Jeff Atwood learns may not be applicable to them (which is true of any story on Indie Hackers, really), then it's okay.