I think a lot of it depends on where you live. If you're willing to live in a crazy far away place in the US or Canada OR you're in Eastern Europe/Taiwan/Thailand where prices haven't quite gone bananas as they have here, you can still do this sort of thing.
Historically, though, a lot of the innovative things we have enjoyed came because of large corporations and governments willing to invest in research and development. Just take a look at the history of Bell Labs or DARPA, for example.
Historically, though, a lot of the innovative things we have enjoyed came because of large corporations and governments willing to invest in research and development. Just take a look at the history of Bell Labs or DARPA, for example.