[refulgentis]

Put another way, you'll learn much more about how to identify and work with talented people on difficult projects at Google than at a startup. At a startup you're worried about how you'll pack a bologna sandwich for lunch tomorrow, at Google you're a sous chef for a 5 star banquet hall in NYC.

[dmarlow]

I think it goes both ways. There are plenty mundane things at BigCo for people to do.

[refulgentis]

I've done both extremes, and you're absolutely right, but the point still stands no matter how many cases we can find that might hint at the opposite :)