Thats what all FOSS development is.
The positive is attribution, which is enough for some.
Its like planting the seed of a tree, nurturing it but knowing youll never live to benefit from its shade.
Discussion
yeah… i’d love to help out different projects full-time, but when you are not even sure if you have enough to eat the next day, then it’s tough
i'm not sure what to say, first feed yourself. i can also advise: stick to something you already have experience in if you are on the bones of your arse. and third point: bitcoin meetups can be a good place to find contacts that could lead you to work, a lot of bitcoiners are entrepreneurs and finding good workers is hard.
it can also build towards paid work ultimately.