Of course they want engineers to be desperate, it's a lot cheaper that way. This idea that the best ideas come from desperation isn't necessarily accurate anyway, builders want to build, its in their blood. It's why I hack on the weekends and played with breadboards and legos as a kid.

Having enough money allows me to focus on doing what I love best: building stuff. I want to be a part of building the Holodeck, paying me less won't make me want it more.