I think forex traders loose their money due to following reasons: 1.Bad management practices 2.Poor choice of location 3.Failure to invest in new products and efficient technology 4.Lack of adequate financing.
As far as what was referred to as "ghetto traders"... Very few are willing to sit in front of screens every second for 8-15 hours a day,5 days a week,12 months a year for 5 to 10 years with no guarantee of results. Personally... I've been exposed to and have witnessed it all...dead markets,crashes of 2000 and 2007...9/11 with all the panic,euphoria and killer days mixed in.I've gone from calling trades to the floor in 1998 to witnessing the development of trading software both for TA and execution right into the industry's move to 24hr electronic markets with one click trading across the world.Amazing transition and still in it's infancy. . If you can hold on through the bad and keep your head through the good while coming up with something that works for you...you have a chance IF you can adapt to change...then you need $. Takes a toll on ones health,finances,family and sanity. An arduous and excruciatingly difficult sacrifice most would never make. As DB Phoenix said..."choice".
Most of the traders fail because of their poor or weak mindset and thus there is need for strong determination and mindset which is very much important for the growth of the trader.
Mindset doesn't make a trader a success, a good edge and proper money management make for trading success. The proper mindset may be vital to get those two things but by itself,, a strong will won't turn a novice into a successful trader. It's like claiming a love of books is all you need to be an academic. Until you've done the work and acquired a specific knowledge set validated by credentials, your book love won't get you a key to any faculty lounge.
They make money charging fees and commissions to those who will pay them. This is "doing pretty well". most traders do not charg fees or comissions. The objective of trading is making money in price fluctuation.
The why's come on several integrated levels. as you have discovered there are no great how's available to you.