[diehunde]

Probably through academia? If you get a PhD you can spend years working on a very specific topic.

[waboremo]

Possibly but not necessary, the more important element of a PhD is its effect on your environment. A PhD is legitimizing your niche interest vs how we treat those with niche interests who don't have a PhD ("obsessed"/wasting time). It's a very powerful effect, and minimizes a lot of the external stress of a niche interest that causes many to lose hope and move on.

[cudder]

That's an excellent point I hadn't thought of before. Thanks for bringing it up.