I went to a shit liberal arts school that taught me COBOL for Information Systems I/II in 2003, Windows 3.11 for Workgroups + Novell Networks for Building Local Area Networks where we had to patch Novell to recognize what a CD-ROM was, all on Jaz/Zip disks.
I dropped out 3.5 years into it and changed my major five times. I moved across the country with no support network over there and I've worked since I was 14 and full-time since I was 17 to support myself.
I solely founded my current company which was named in some publications as a fast growing company in the United States and the state I live in, and brought on a partner (who I ceded the CEO title to) who I met not in college.
It's possible. The challenges are enormous. And I don't think articles like this undermine them at all. It isn't easy to drop out and to work full-time your whole life from a family of below-average means, but it can be done in this country, maybe specifically this country because of the unbounded opportunity and low amount of government regulation that exists.
I'm not saying my path is doable for everyone, or even anyone, really. But it isn't NOT doable.