> I suggested that perhaps this is because the famous people are the only ones who are fast enough to actually do everything you're "supposed to do" and still be productive.

Conjecture: it is instead or also because famous people are the only ones who are given enough slack to be able to take the time to actually do everything you're supposed to do.

Proposed test to distinguish between the conjectures: do famous mathematicians become famous by finding gaps, or find gaps after becoming famous?