Can't help you with the first one.
But feeling like you need to be a rockstarninjahacker is garbage. Many of my clients have no idea how to evaluate my code. The question is - can you get it done? On time? At price? to get to that point - it's do we trust you? Working on your communication skills will probably get you much further than improving your technical skills for finding/keeping freelance work.
I run one of such agencies. We are 100% remote. If you are interested contact me at [email protected].
Can anyone here make some recommendations from experience?
I feel like I'd need to be a 'rockstarninjahacker' before taking remote jobs and being able to complete them (and demand enough to pay for this lifestyle)