[prostoalex]

> That said, I sure feel sorry for someone with no friends, romantic partners, or human engagement on anything outside their work.

All three of those things are really available throughout life and are not that hard to accumulate once one sets his/her mind to it. In fact, she'll probably have access to higher caliber of candidates who'd know her background and find her intellectually stimulating in those capacities.

Whereas the opportunity to move humanity forward in a major way, with a matching set of skills (and energy of a young person) is more of a once in a lifetime opportunity.