I hate to break it to you, but people working as gas station cashiers as adults aren't going to produce much innovation no matter what. They work those jobs because they need resources to survive and they can't make more money elsewhere.

Like I said, the people you're talking about just had a significant period of time where they were effectively paid to stay home and had ample time to pursue their personal interests, yet no meaningful innovation was produced by that cohort that I'm aware of. What am I missing?