While I agree with you that not everyone can make a billion dollar business I can't help but think that there ARE people they did it. That other people already did it doesn't mean that you will do it the same way. These thinks require a lot of luck and much more hard work.

BUT what I want to say is non of these people made a billion dollar business because they want to make billion dollar business. No, they did it because they found finally something they thought people on earth do need. Some of them were wrong (like most of the weekend projects on HN will die because of monthly costs ect.) but a few of them were right and did it.

If you want to play this coke game then you should it and you should do it with a fun project, with a project you think the world needs, with a project you would love and whole bunch people too.

BUT make sure that you know that you don't have to play this game. There is also a way to make great money (not billions tough). If you want to go into the million dollar business you could dig into cooperate e-business stuff. These may not be fun and you can't program in Haskell but if do it big you will get your money. There is a lot of room for smart people you just need to say what they want you to say and make them happy. This will let you make so much money you wouldn't have thought about.

Just find out what you want.