What about just not pursuing a PhD and instead doing what OP did? With the PhD you potentially lose #1 in
I actually think that you can get great results doing research as a hobby because
it gives you loads of slack, which is freedom to do things without constraints. In this context, I think slack is valuable because it allows you to research things outside of the publishing mainstream.
and less pressure.
I think these two things are crucial for success. The slack allows you to look at risky and niche ideas are more likely to yield better research rewards if they are true, since surprising results will trigger further questions.
Also, since you are more likely to do better at topics you enjoy, getting money from a day job allows you to actually purse your interests or deviate from your supervisor’s wishes. Conversely, it also allows you to give up when you’re not enjoying something.
What about just not pursuing a PhD and instead doing what OP did? With the PhD you potentially lose #1 in
which is where much of the impact comes from, especially if you subscribe to a multiplicative view of impact.