this might actually be the route you want to take, based on what you're saying. i know you mentioned wanting to be away from cs for a while, but if you want to do theoretical stuff, the collegiate setting is the way to do it. same with music, same with writing, same with everything that hasn't already happened (like history). the collegiate setting - particularly smaller universities or REALLY large ones - is the best place to do theoretical analysis and research-based studies. hell, if you're any good, you could probably get a grant to do it, as well.