Yea eventually that is the only path. Although I think you overestimate what is required (financially) to start an independent business. If you are single and you have funds to last you 6 months, you are probably good to do.
An argument for going deep on a career is that you can build relationships built on trust which let you climb the TC hierarchy. This then accelerates the warchest accumulation, and I'm looking ahead as a married man with decades available.
Depends heavily on what type of company we're talking about.