I really wish there was a way to: (a) have the autonomy and interesting work of a startup tech founder (while a full-time technologist, not a manager) but (b) w

I really wish there was a way to: (a) have the autonomy and interesting work of a startup tech founder (while a full-time technologist, not a manager) but (b) without the extreme income variance. Bootstrap a product business, optionally with a side of consulting. It is pretty much exactly what you want. The downside insurance doesn't work like "sell all upside", though -- it just means that it takes you N years to reach the relative position with regards to $1 billion that Mr. Swing For The Fences is on day 1, but when that day arrives, you'll have five or six figures of recurring income in your back pocket.