>>150117212
Helmet tech and rule changes both have made it far safer. Aftercare for injuries is also better.
Doubt walk-ons will happen much at P2 schools anymore. The House settlement changed rosters from being 125 max with 85 scholarships to 105 max, all allowed scholarship. Schools can choose to not give a scholarship to some of its players, but only poor schools needing to save money would do that. P2 schools will fill their rosters and at the bare minimum, give them all scholarships. Eliminating the distraction of minor money issues is worth it to the school.
There might be a few openings for walk-ons when someone gets injured or drops out for other reasons, but that's very different than when there were up to forty of them. And generally if you're good enough to get NIL money, you're good enough for a scholarship.
You're right that this is a golden age for playing football. Lower risk, higher reward. Eventually the wild west of payouts will be tamed, and the money will still be good but players like Arch Manning likely won't get as much a decade from now (inflation adjusted).