1) Working at a job that pays and is stable (and this is what they want) 2) Working on their own startup 3) Working on a graduate degree, and not interested in things that make money.
carpal, do I know you?
I even had an idea a couple of years ago similar to your Wamily thing. I called it "Grupevine". Pretty much a "website in a box" for a group. Groups would associate with each other and a user could easily find and be a member of many groups.
There's a weekly meeting of other "smart people in Atlanta" called AtlHack that I go to. It's at Octane every Tuesday at around 8:30. You should come some time.
I'd like to hear more about your Wamily idea. You can hit me up at erik /at/ subwindow[dot]com
I go to the Atlanta Ruby User's Group meetings and AtlHack (http://www.atlhack.org/).
I also usually make it to the ATL Ruby Users group. It's a pretty good bunch.
It is not going well. There aren't many people here that are available, willing, and smart. I'm finding that the biggest advantage to the "startup hubs" is that there are more people nearby with a similar mentality. Be it employees, cofounders or investors. In Atlanta, there's hardly anybody whose brain is wired the same way mine is.
The solution for me is to move out to the west coast as soon as possible. Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to make it out there for at least another year.