I don't know what anyone is talking about. I just got my DSLR last week. Last year I was just shooting with a P&S and made well over $90,000 USD. All I had to do was dress in black, pretend I was brooding all the time over my art and people kept hiring me. I'd just tell them I was in my less is more stage so they accepted the P&S.
After getting my DSLR, now I'll be in my bigger is better stage. I still need to learn to get out of that green square mode but it's so easy to use so I'm not sure if I'll do it. I can just tell the clients green means "GO! Be awesome!". I'm sure I'll make at least three times as I made last year because bigger is better. Who cares if I forget to take the lens cap off. I just tell clients that it's how I perceive the darkness that is inside all of us. I've sold at least 10 of these images blown up to poster size for around $1,000 each.
Now, if you've actually read all of this and haven't turned off your computer in disgust, please know that I'm joking. It's early morning and I've got nothing else better to do right now.
My personal opinion on this photography as a living thing? It's like any business. You get out of it what you put in to it. It can be hard but it can be rewarding. You have to know how to market yourself. You have to be confident enough in your abilities to sell it. It's not going to be an instant success thing. It might take years of eating ramen before you are comfortable. No offense against ramen. I think it's great food and if anyone wants a good recipe to make it better let me know.
Learn as much as you can about the photography side and the business side. It will help make the journey a bit easier.