Entry-level using stock tools? That was the nineties. Hacking scene came apart due to ethical hacking certs after 9/11? No. The hacking scene was all about hacking in the beginning. Then some people turned white-hat and got security jobs. Then most people in the scene got security day-jobs by releasing tools and 0days to market themselves. Then organized crime started hiring hackers for projects. Now hacking is all about money, be it a security job or working for the Russians.