Contract work. I don't take contracts that aren't worth my time and my time is very valuable to me. When my clients blush at my cost, which they sometimes do, I point out that they are welcome to measure my output however they like and to cancel the contract at any time. Most new clients come from word of mouth, which of course is a position of privilege, but not that hard if you do great work.
I think you're generally right that it's difficult to find salaried positions that are properly compensated.
I'm 41. I just asked 6 friends who are my contemporaries and each of them knew this song well. It was also, of course, extremely popular, as the link points out.
Can you introspect a bit about what may be unusual about you so that you were never exposed to this song?
Why couldn't a potential hire be given 5 minutes to think about a solution and then be asked what their plan is? What benefit is added by 36x-ing the time allowed that justifies putting the candidate through such pain?
It isn't if they are meek or mid.
In general: it's good to let your employer know that you value your time. If you don't suck, they'll respect you more, not less.