Here is a problem you run into when you try to save your way into becoming "rich": If it takes you 20 years to get the sum you want, you then become fearful that if it's taken away from you - either by theft, stupidity, the government, the economy tanking, or any of the many other ways you can lose your savings, then you won't be able to re-generate that sum for another 20 years.
I know some guys who have a big 401K accounts, and yet, they are scared of some terrorist attack on this country that can sink the economy and thus sink their 401K.
Thus, if you save up a huge amount of money over a long period of time - you become much more susceptible to the environment and outside factors changing then if you've been able to generate a good deal of money through your skills.
At least, that's what I'm currently thinking, maybe I'm wrong
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