I think it's the key. Learning maths isn't something you can do on the side. It's countless hours of intensive active learning and problem solving. I don't see how it can be done outside an academic path. I remember my undergraduate program, we had 14 hours of class of maths alone a week, plus a 4-hours exam every other Saturday, and I was working several hours a day on top of this, most days of the week.
Maths can be fun, but who wants to do that kind of effort for the pure joy of learning?
I think it's the key. Learning maths isn't something you can do on the side. It's countless hours of intensive active learning and problem solving. I don't see how it can be done outside an academic path. I remember my undergraduate program, we had 14 hours of class of maths alone a week, plus a 4-hours exam every other Saturday, and I was working several hours a day on top of this, most days of the week.
Maths can be fun, but who wants to do that kind of effort for the pure joy of learning?