Financial freedom is about not having to worry about losing your job, or tolerating shitty work conditions. Why would you retire if you do what you love? I think the real problem might be if there's nothing you actually love doing (long term), that's when money won't help.
What do you mean? Money is the best thing to have if you’re lazy and don’t like doing anything.
In this case I agree though, he’s the boss, not beholden to anyone. Can wander around and do what interests him.
The people with the drive to be able to retire early are also the most likely to be bored when it happens.
Working on something fun and novel, like in his case Gemini, mentioned in the article, is the ideal.