The main difference is that, except learning to fly planes (although I've looked up nearby flight schools, know how much time+money it requires, read up on the basics, and learned what is required to get a private pilot certification) and working with OLPC, I have done these things in my free time already, even concurrently. And when I had more free time (just a couple of years ago), I did them more often.

There is just very little doubt in my mind that the choice afforded by a nice passive income would help me do more things that make me happy.

Also, I hate Doritos. :-)

Know thyself, I guess.