> As long as you can find a way to support yourself
I'm not nearly so sanguine about most people's ability to make that happen. The kind of people who get into a seed funding program probably don't have to worry about living in mom's basement for three years before something comes together. I think that kind of penalty for failure would be way more common among most people than you're acknowledging.
almost everyone qualified to start a company has some sort of skill they can sell for $20-40 per hour (or far more). which is generally enough to pay rent.
I'm not nearly so sanguine about most people's ability to make that happen. The kind of people who get into a seed funding program probably don't have to worry about living in mom's basement for three years before something comes together. I think that kind of penalty for failure would be way more common among most people than you're acknowledging.