Me (and you) can do theoretical work.

Even nanomanipulators are DIY: http://www.popsci.com/diy/article/2011-07/you-built-what-sca... or http://hackaday.com/2015/01/13/cheap-diy-microscope-sees-ind...

(ESM can be used to manipulate atoms)

Yet I haven't had time or courage. Or badassness.

To work on theoretical physics, you anyway do need a job in physics or win the lottery - doing it as a hobby for 15 hours a week after a job doesn't count, to get anywhere you do need to be able to work on it full time for a few years.

And this is what I call lack of courage.