I can see what the problem is...
Don't you think that many problems in your virtual world only exist, because you are running an outdated OS, Arthur? You remind me of somebody I worked with in the past. Today's world is really crazy and I think to be paranoid actually is kind of a sane state, but sometimes it's really time to make an update and to enter the new world of amazing possibilities. Trust me, you would be way more secure with a Linux system and a browser with enabled uMatrix Addon ;)
you will never "arrive"
No developer will ever "arrive". Devs have more problems than most other people can ever imagine, mainly because a developer's job is to solve problems... Nearly all developments begin with a problem for which a solution must be found. Additionally there are many new problems being created all the time while working on the main solution.
And of course, there are many external influences, as you stated, which can lead to serious unforeseeable problems. One needs to be fast, flexible and kind of a perfectionist for mastering coding stable products in long term.
Having a life full of problems is not the best way to find peace and in today's world I would not recommend to many people to start working as a software/web developer in full time. There are more important problems to solve in life and one really needs to be a full time freak to be successful in the world of coding... ^^
I have recently downloaded Mint. Thanks for adding the tip about uMatrix Addon.
I have used my OS for many years because, at that time, I had made some hacker friends and one of them made this XP version available. He has stripped it of all reporting, taking out things like Media Player and, watching my friends, I realised I rarely got hit by a virus.
I have moved on to Win7 as I needed to create a wallet for some tokens I was given as a gift...but I find I'm having more problems there. Every time I shut down and re-start, Firefox has lost all the addons, themes etc plus all the tabs I had used, despite my setting it to start with previous sites.
As for programming, I cannot program, but my brother and I, about 18 years ago, bought a small company which was developing some new technology. We rented a big house and gave to the programmers each a bedroom and if they went home, they did not have to be back at work until they felt ready. I doubt they took off more than 5 days over more than a year. We also hired a cook and made certain they ate.
The program was a great success - it could run a virtual character real time and by using a glass screen, for example, you could show on stage Elvis (as an example) and he could move around and talk and sing, old and new songs. We actually had a Saturday evening show with our virtual girl having chats with an audience and by phone, giving advice. It was extended for a season, but then we folded...as I explain below
By the time we were ready and went to USA to find some funding, we were running short and the business was bankrupted. I still have the hard drives with the coding...but this year I saw another company has just managed to create what we had so many years ago.
I am also trying to start another startup and will need to find coders, but in South Africa, there are many with the knowledge, but little experience, but as soon as I have raised the capital, we'll get working. It has to do with crypto (in a different way from all others) and will work on the blockchain...let's see how that goes.
:)