Wow. Ive been missing out on quite the interesting thread.
First and foremost, IF you decide to do this, I wish the best of luck to you.
Ive considered packing my bags and going to vegas, but i have a good job and supplement my income with BJ. Like others mentioned before, i think people underestimate the difficulty of playing full time. Ive taken trips to areas of interest, and playing BJ wears on you fast. Winning is nice, but expenses are high, (especially in vegas), and losing a big session is extremely mentally taxing, especially if youre in a bad spot. If youre not ready for it, youll be in a world of s***.
You sound like you havent had many bad experiences in your life, which (in my humble opinion), might account for some of misplaced confidence. Have you ever been mugged? Had the crap kicked out of you? Had something terrible happen to you and been hundreds of miles away from anyone that cares you exist and have no money? Its not a good feeling. All im saying is have a solid contingency plan and be prepared for the worst.
And IF you are able to be a "rocket scientist or whatever", why not put a little interest into something a little more...profitable? If everything you touch turns to gold, you could probably do alot better than gambling.
Anyway, like i said, the best of luck to you.