This isn't rocket science, I am sure you're capable of understanding this. 

Perhaps if this was an investment in tech or life sciences where there is the possibility of an IPO you can generate this type of return but real estate does not yield these kinds of returns & anyone looking for these types of returns is investing in the wrong asset class. my current project which is about as good as we could do for 90 home project will turn out to be 2X in 3.5 years with return higher as principal came back starting in the first year and continue until built out.. when its all done I guess I might run it through a spread sheet to see what the IRR was.. 8 to 15X  is like you said a leverage stock type deal. not RE development

Look, managing property isn’t rocket science, but it is a business.

Both of these components, corporate rentals and NNN lease have loooong been around, so it's not rocket science. 

This link has over 11,000 data-driven investors taking Neal’s real estate data science course, and there are over a thousand reviews from people that Neal doesn’t even know.

There is an entire art and science of dissemination for what certain VIX positions mean, how the VIX responding to certain things lends certain meanings and how the VIX being at certain places heralds certain potential next moves in the market. 

There is an art and science of welcoming guests and inviting then into your...HOME (even if you don't live there full time.) 

This is the people who dig into the geology, hydrology, they use all this science to identify where the gold should be, which uses solid reasoning of exactly why it should be there.

Also Biotechnology, Nanotechnology, Life Sciences, Minerals (here & other planets) Medical (in multiple facets) Energy (in many facets)Equities market moderately volatile with (some) changes in the key players.

Yes I think this is where developers make their money, but it's obviously not an exact science.