From your description, you have the ability to learn whatever you chose. So if being a SE appeals to you, why not learn whatever is required in whatever domain

From your description, you have the ability to learn whatever you chose. So if being a SE appeals to you, why not learn whatever is required in whatever domain you chose? Being a serial specialist is rather lucrative and intellectually stimulating. Having been both a researcher and adjunct lecturer in academia, my observation is that the MBAs have hijacked the institutions and universities have become just another large bureaucratic business focused on maximizing profits.