Though it does take a mature understanding to appreciate this impossibility, so it's not surprising that people go around proposing clever shortcuts.

"Shut up and do the impossible" isn't the same as expecting to find a cheap way out.

The Wright Brothers obviously proposed a clever shortcut - more clever than the other, failed shortcuts - a cheap way out, that ended the "Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible" era.

You need your fundamental breakthrough - the moment you can think, like the guys probably thought, "I'm pretty sure this will work." turning it from impossible to possible and from improbable to probable. After that final breakthrough, the anticipation leading up to the first flight must have been intense. And the feeling associated with finally being able to say "Yup, it worked." indescribable. Will there be such clearly-defined moments in AGI design?

These posts manage to convey the idea that this is really, really big and really, really difficult stuff. I sure hope that some wealthy people see that too - and realize that receiving commensurate funding would be more than justified.