The argument can be made that non-parents shouldn’t use the 529’s for the “future” student. They’re better off paying the tuition directly which doesn’t count as a gift to the IRS.
As for a 529 owned by the parent or student, you could invest in 401k/IRA instead, but there of course are limitations associated with those vehicles vs 529. https://www.cappex.com/articles/money/how-to-shelter-assets-on-the-fafsa%5B/quote%5D
529ks can pretty much be rolled over from one account to another belonging to the same owner. 529 accounts can also be rolled over between accounts for the same beneficiary. The beneficiary of a 529k account can also be changed. The gift tax exemption per person is now more than 10million making large rollovers among beneficiary moot… 4 variables to play with years before college…..
