It's more interesting when self-directed

I agree. I've found that a lot of the subjects I hated in school, I ended up finding an interest in later in life on my own. I now think it had a lot more to do with the method of teaching than the material itself.

Was about to post this.

Bonsai people, expert in a couple years, vs regular people where it takes a decade.

But those bonsai people aren't really experts.