Consider it the creative application of computer code to systemic weaknesses in the global economy, with a clearly defined success function which is fairly difficult to fudge. That might help explain some of the attraction. (There's also the "If you only know W-2 employees, then making money by a legitimate means other than a day job feels like cheating", and for some reason a lot of hackers like winning by rules exploitation more than they like winning.)

Good hack, yep that's a interesting question.

Edit: Weakness - language. Solution get a bi-lingual friend who can suggest a non English success story. This in reverse http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-02-29/the-germany-...

For me, it doesn't feel like cheating. The way I see it, the normal way to earn money (ie employment) is the inefficient/underpaid way.

It's not cheating if you're merely getting your fair share :)

Hacker News != just news on hacking