[harryh]

I generally agree with you about risk, though the counter argument is that they are putting capital at risk. They are taking some portion of their compensation as equity that may or may not turn out to have any value. It might not be actual dollars coming out of a bank account but the risk is still there.

Incidentally, since this is HN, one might ask if startup employees are doing the same thing to which I would generally nod and agree with you.