Actually, I was making $70K/year with my employer and had my own side business and contract work which brought me up to $100K/year.
It's not always about the money, its about enjoying what you do. I've acomplished a hell of a lot as a programmer and now I'm bored. I still keep doing contracts on the side because I love it too much.
But for me it was time to turn the page and tackle new endevours (however that is spelled). I'm great at everything I do and never back down from a challenge, so I see absolutly no reason why I won't make more money day trading than I was programming. Actually I'm hoping for over $150K in 2007!
So doing the EasyLanguage is sure as hell not for the money, but just because I can't stop programming/scripting (I love it).
For everyone else, I just hope that if you have a choice between:
a) doing what you LOVE for $30K/year, or
b) doing 'just another job' for $40K/year
...you'll always choose 'a'!
Anyway, just wanted to point out that you have no reason to criticize what someone is willing to do and for how much... especially assume an outcome when you don't know facts.
Take care,
Jeach!