All true enough. But Nora Fiore made it through the jungle, and had managed to establish a very solid identity--though, as you say, the $$ were very probably still not there. I don't imagine that anyone who is unable to snag some ongoing gig for a well-heeled organization (what's left of the major print media, TCM, etc.) is making a truly comfortable living wage.

Perhaps the mystery will be solved shortly. In the meantime, all of us who are of a certain age will just keep on keeping on.