It's not easy. But it's possible. The world would be better if more people realized that it was possible (because some of them would do it!). If you don't believe something is possible, you won't try.

Changing careers into development is easier than many people think.

But you would have to find a way to survive 6 full months without a job, which ironically is much easier if you're in software...

Yes, the flexibility/resources to spend 6 months learning something is a limit here.