I am considering becoming a licensed agent myself - I feel the benefits to an investor of pursuing a license outweigh the costs and/or lack of experience of an excellent professional real estate agent.

It like when Apple or Tesla pays hackers to find problems in their code.

Mostly this was due to my lack of knowledge.

I have educated myself a lot on the BRRRR strategy but now my minor set back is the lack of understanding when it comes to financing with partners since I'm aware this will take me 3-5 times longer to accomplish on my own. 

Attorney's will tend to be quite a bit more expensive simply due to their business model and lack of scaling scope.  

The manager was grateful that he didn't hire someone with such lack of character, ethics, and respect.

Well maybe it's my lack of experience, but I am starting to think there isn't plenty.

You are just the property manager, and it seems to me like you are trying to capitalize on his lack of experience.You get nothing for bringing the deal, except that he might hire you first as his property manager and pay you the going rate for your area.

Most projects in Op zones will be forced to work as you said they are in areas that are impoverished and lack stable and sufficient household incomes.

I actually don't consider comparing syndications to 'landlording' apples to apples at all.