[angersock]

I don't care about status so much as compensation. With most IC roles, you cap out pretty quickly in salary and equity pretty quickly regardless of performance.

If you want better money, or just to get paid the equity you're worth, you are forced into management roles.

[bluGill]

I know I'd be a bad manager, but I can still make more money as a bad manager than as a great technical person. When I look at toys I want (and the retirement I hope to get someday) it is hard to not think maybe I should jump ship - I might hate my job for a while, but overall I might be happier anyway.