The article might be more of a personal ponderance than anything, even though the author calls out others. Yes, everything that was wrong back then is being ignored, so that we can focus on a simple fact: most of us are probably not living up to our potential. So it's easier to get into business or write code these days? That's even more reason why we shouldn't be squandering our opportunities! Look at what you do for a living and ask yourself: is it meaningful? Will it truly matter after you're dead and gone? Is it helping to make the world a better place? At a bare minimum, does it make you happy?