Some of his supporters certainly act like they can't live without him. Who, after all, would tuck Derich in at night?
It's funny to me that Phil has touted not having a boss as one of the best aspects of what he does to stay alive. And it's true, he doesn't have a boss. He has a few dozen. He'd never admit it aloud but I think one of the thoughts triggering those sleepless nights of his is the fact that however much he may bully and deride them, he has to give them what they want. He can't just stop for a long period of time because that I think is the one thing that would make them finally stop sending him money, if only for the fact that they'd find some other slug to parasocially attach themselves to.
Phil's not living his ideal life and he never will, because his ideal life is doing exactly what he wants at any given moment and making hundreds of dollars for it. It may be the saddest example of it that I can think of, but Phil's "job" is approached by its worker in the same way as most people's: with apathy and general distaste.
Suck it up, Phil. Another day at the salt mines