Of course, there is no one way to skin the cat, as different investors have different risk tolerance, and different approaches to this business in general given a wide array of varying factors.

The purchase price is the quickest simplest means although equity development is another, creative financing structures can be one say seller terms, it is an endless array of potentials. 

D is doable if it's at scale -- vast scale.

Maybe I said this before , maybe I didn't but If my numbers make sense at asking price or higher I wouldn't ask for discount, and I could even send an offer over asking price if the property in question is being highly contested, but in the vast majority of listings in my market that's not the case.

The vast majority of realtors don't want anything to do with "fixer uppers." 

Quote from @John Brodeur: @James Hamling, I think the vast majority of posters agree that a property at 100% leverage with 0 reserves is not a good idea and I don't think private money, hard money, or a bank would lend on that $245K. 

I THINK that there’s a huge difference between the few full time, proven successful individuals who wholesale and the vast majority of wanna be, no cash, little knowledge spammers who try for 3-6 months and are then move  on to the next “hot thing”.I ASSUME that there are (may be ) some long term very successful wholesalers making a fortune at it.  

With the vast majority of the buyers of the few thousand properties I have funded for fix and flip ( either retail or to investors) the majority of buyers in those areas for investment purposes are located on the coasts with a vast majority CA based.. 

My recollection of history is vastly different. 

All the while we are getting paid each month.As you said, many "Bros" would love to get to the "Time Freedom Point" ASAP, but so far the world does not work that way for the vast majority of people and the few exceptions should not guide our behavior.