I'm wondering if it's partly location-specific/cultural.
It looks as it is. Or that people have different definitions on consulting.
For functional consultants almost all job postings in my country require at least a bachelor's degree, most of them state specific domain experience and several years of experience as a SAP consultant.
You graduate at 20+, add at least 3-4 years in a 'real' job, then 5 more as a SAP consultant.
In the first several years in SAP you can be a consultant by title, but probably you will lack the knowledge or the confidence to provide consulting advise.
This means that in your 30's you will actually start your consulting career and at 40 'the world is your oyster'
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Working on shifts in your forties as a first/second level SAP support - now this will be exhausting. Not many stay that long, unless there is some backup plan - if the spouse or relatives can take care of the kids (high chances for at least one hot-tempered teenager).