In other words, you've already taken a gambit with the first half of your PhD, now take a second gambit, praying that you have something to publish by the end of your PhD.
It's worse for those who will face the job market (or maybe tenure review) in the next 2–3 years. If you have more time before you have to justify your continued employment, you can pivot to something else. Theorems and proofs may be cheap now, but there is a lot of value in figuring out what is worth studying.
In other words, you've already taken a gambit with the first half of your PhD, now take a second gambit, praying that you have something to publish by the end of your PhD.
It has to feel awful to be in this position.
Could be worse, imagine having years of experience in a profession these things can now handle by themselves.
:)
It's worse for those who will face the job market (or maybe tenure review) in the next 2–3 years. If you have more time before you have to justify your continued employment, you can pivot to something else. Theorems and proofs may be cheap now, but there is a lot of value in figuring out what is worth studying.