Wow! I took it entirely differently (and still do). I read it as being disappointed that they don’t feel as capable to pursue and invest significant time/effort into their own ideas. Essentially I saw the :( as an admission of envy, not as a judgment.

Admittedly, that could very easily be me projecting. I have tons of envy of people pursuing their ideas without the limitations I have to take seriously in my own life. It doesn’t make me sad to see them succeed or use their time the way they do, it makes me sad to have a brain full of ideas and limited ability to reify them.