[iagreeentirely]

I disagree. I've been part of multiple startups; Only with the first two did I actually expect to make more money than I would at BigCo. Not because the later startups were worse, but because I was less naive.

The reason that I joined those other startups -- and the reason that I more often work for startups than big companies -- is not about money. It's about pace of career development.

Everything on my resume that is interesting or exciting was done at a startup. Every big jump in skill and in compensation has been a result of that startup mentality. Who's fixing this? Me, I'm the only one here. Who's going to deal with the fallout of my poor architecture? Me, I'm the only one here. Who learned a hard lesson? Me.

I can only speak to the cogs side of the house (I'm devops or whatever they're calling us this week).