>it seems like it should be possible for them to be one of the few technologists that can charge exceptional consulting rates The skillsets of an exceptional c

>it seems like it should be possible for them to be one of the few technologists that can charge exceptional consulting rates The skillsets of an exceptional consultant and a successful highly overemployed person can be quite different. The former likely commands their high rates because they work on very difficult, niche problems, and are one of only a few people in the world capable of solving such problems. The latter may just work on boring CRUD apps that anyone with a couple years of coding experience could do. Their skillset lies in having the grit to stay focused on said boring CRUD apps for >8 actual hours per day (and never take a vacation, spend time with friends/family, and all the other things you mention, which I agree is bonkers). They also likely have the social skills to convincingly hide the fact to each employer that they're massively overemployed.