I agree with you but I'd also agree with redstripe when it comes to the parts of the article that said you "can't live in Silicon Valley" without being part of an IPO, or that you can't pay off student loans, or save for retirement, etc. Those things are definitely well within reach, even in San Francisco, on 100K/year. If you can get 130 instead of 100 and would rather do that job then great, go for it, but don't pretend that your doing out of "necessity" or in order to get by. That's the kind of thinking that gets you into jobs you don't like while being perpetually envious of the lifestyle of your investment banker friends.