[sriram_malhar]

"no wonder you have been working on it for decades and have nothing public to show for it"

That's because it was never my intention to show it off. Your motivation comes from making something new and showing it off. My motivation comes from learning something new _to me_ and capturing aha insights, even if that thing has been done before. It isn't "wrong" per se, just a different path. I'm not necessarily interested in carrying my side project to completion, just as many artists carry a notebook for their sketches that are not meant for public consumption.

I too did a PhD and several startups and produced several new products and projects that were well received in the market, and incorporated much that I learnt from my side projects.

But your comment did help jog me out of my local minimum. Thanks for your input.