Never made a profit trying to be a communications local and any possible growth ended when the Internet came in.

I had a good time.

40 years playing in bands, I bet if I did an honest profit and loss accounting, I never made a cent.

Photography as a professional, I don't need to do any account, equipment is far more expensive than any profits and like you say, things become obsolete. I think for digital photography about every four years. Except the top of the line lenses.

What all of these have in common is, people try, invest time, work and some actually make it. The other 98% are more or less like me to different degrees. But the bottom line and that what any business is about, I only spent money trying and I HAD A GREAT TIME!