FTA:counts just over 100 subscribers
So, no.
here's a popular publication with a link to his new app [...] this has to feel like and accomplishment
It's a blog. And by that standard, pretty soon 'I posted to HN' will be an 'accomplishment'. Just for fun, let's look at the next two headlines:
Guyana's Health Minister Cautions Against Singing Too Much About Rum
Bizarro, Cat-Hating Woman Found
If he pays people to make all the calls, it should take him almost no time to run the business. And even paying the callers a reasonableish sum, he probably keeps ~1/3 of the money.
So he wrote an extremely-simple website, got it some exposure, and hired a friend to make the calls, and now he's got $500/month in recurring income that has a good chance of growing and requires little recurring work. Sure, he's not going to get rich, but that doesn't mean it's a failed venture.
That's really pretty good. I think Zachary really nailed the 'make something people want' angle :)