There's plenty of people trying to be self-sufficient and in my anecdotal experience the vast majority if not all are still unable to entirely disconnect and thats with modern technology and knowledge. The most isolated hermits still buy flour/sugar/salt. I'd like to see the experts here fend for themselves too see how much 'abundance' they come across. Nature is in a state of fierce competition; nothing falls on your lap.
Even ages ago hermits relied on others in some way. Saint Anthony of Egypt weaved baskets to trade for bread and constantly went deeper into the desert when he'd get too many visitors...yet he still traded for his food so he never went too far away.
