Can a Recreational Player be profitable?

Poker has been a hobby of mine on and off since I was 16 (I am now 36). I love studying the game. However, I have a full time career and a young family so I cannot play as much as I’d like.

I just started getting back into poker for the last 2 months. I have re-read modern poker theory, watched/read/listen to many of the free poker education content creators and started studying some solver outputs from the free version of GTO wizard. I probably study about 90% of the time and play 10% of the time. I have no idea if my current form is profitable due to extremely small sample size.

I am a very analytical and obsessive person by nature. I have to acknowledge the addictive nature of poker and the potentially infinite money pit if I am a negative EV player.

If I am going to commit to this being a serious hobby, I plan to buy access to solver solutions and outline a study plan. I play a fairly tight pre-flop RFI range with a 3-bet or fold strategy unless on the BTN (against passive blinds) or BB. I have countless leaks post-flop and I think working with solver data will help me develop better post-flop heuristics.

I am just a bit fearful that I will invest this time and effort on a hobby just to become a mark at my local casino. I just won’t be able to put as much time and effort as some of the young kids and pros.

The game I have mostly been playing is $2/5 8-max max buy in $1000. I will play $1/3 max buy in $400 when I feel I am in the bottom half skill wise at the $2/5 table. Both games have 10% rake (max $5) with $3 jackpot drop (at $10,20 and $50). I strongly prefer the $2/5 game compared to the $1/3 dynamic. I am not trying to build up a bankroll, so I am not very interested in grinding at $1/3 unless you all think there is a lot of educational value in playing that game structure.

So do you all think a recreational player can become at least break even?