"was a pumper of everything good" You seem to latch onto a fairly tale version of reality. I don't remember Houseboater having any stock picking skill aside from leaving HRCT at the right time. I don't remember ANYONE in pennyland making and keeping much when the bubble burst.
One HRCT fan used to post his buys/sells in detail. By 2001, when he disappeared, I figured he'd lost 95% minimum in a year. HRCT was actually one of his better stocks!
It's going to be a lean retirement for many in pennyland. Thank goodness for Social Security or most of the addicted players would have blown those funds too.