Wow, I'm glad it worked out for him...I guess I can now view his obsession as inspiring instead of tragic for his family.
It's situations like his that make me wonder about the wisdom of pursuing what you love, especially when others need you. Pursuing what you love is a uniquely Western-rich-kid's luxury.
If you take your pursuit to the degree of self-destructive obsession, it would be wise to wonder.
If you take your pursuit to the degree of self-elevating obsession, power to you.
I think this guy shows that pursuing what you love is available to everyone, even to poor Chinese peasants. His life might not be profitable one, but it is certainly a life well lived.
And what do you think of the quality of life his wife and children are experiencing? I think it's too bad that she's probably unable to leave him.
I lived in China for a while. Inventing and entrepreneurship is harder there to get going because of current social trends, but if you make it, you make it huge. One U.S. dollar is equal to 6.8 Chinese RMB right now, and the purchasing power of 1 RMB is about the same as 1 USD, or at least was when I was there a few years ago. That means if you build something with wide appeal that can sell in markets with stronger currency (or even just HK/Shanghai/Beijing), you make it bigtime. Riskier? Yes. But the potential quality of life you can build in a short time is ridiculously wonderful if you make some breakthroughs.
Trevor Blackwell should reach out. He would be a great asset to Anybots and to the US.
He could probably make plenty of money, selling these online to rich people who want a curio with a great story behind it.