He did not do it for the gig. He, as far as I understood was just playing with new technologies as a learning opportunity which gave him an option of a 6-mo gig

He did not do it for the gig. He, as far as I understood was just playing with new technologies as a learning opportunity which gave him an option of a 6-mo gig as a freebie. The message, I think, is that being conversant in new technologies gives you good opportunities to sell those skills. Author did not try hard, so his ROI on 6-month learning was measly (6-mo gig), but it shows opportunity is there if one aims for high ROI. At least that is how I read it.