I used the one hour as an example. They are 24 hours in a day and anyone that says "I have no time," is probably lying or not interested enough. Dell was founded in a college dorm and so was Google. Even Obama finds a few hours to go and play golf, basketball or take his daughters for ice cream. This guy wants to quit his job to become a programmer. What programmer? He doesn't know. Money doesn't buy you programing skills, you can learn a lot more with an old 386 computer at home if you truly want, than at MIT if you aren't as motivated.

But there aren't 24 hours in a day, that's the fallacy that people get caught in all the time to keep doing something they don't want because they are afraid. People sleep for 7-8 hours, they work for 9-10 more including lunch and at a minimum, there are now only 6 to 8 hours in a day, M-F if there is no commuting. Even if you have no other commitments and prefer to spend all your free time pursuing the idea of becoming a programmer, you're severely limited from a time perspective.

Your advice might be useful for someone with a wife and 3 kids plus a mortgage and a car payment. This guy is operating from the assumption that money is no object for at least 24 months. You can learn a lot more with an old 386 computer and 10 hours a day than you can with the same computer and 2 hours day. If you have planned and saved well and have no dependents like this guy does, I don't see anything wrong with what he's doing at all.

I agree that a few hours a week is not enough. Plus, having your back to the wall financially is a huge motivator.