[democracy]

Strongly disagree with #4. If you stay in middle management you are basically the easiest target for company "re-structuring" and your position will be made obsolete in a moment - as you are expensive, visible and easily replaceable with a more enthusiastic/younger/cheaper/less vocal individuals. I have seen it many times, such people are unemployable after years of management on this level.

[geodel]

This seems very true to me. I have only middle managers survive are un-management like. They would join 3 AM troubleshooting, prod deployment calls, be available on weekends. In general about as much concerned as tech lead if not more.