[petercooper]

I've honestly never understood why startups want to be acquired (besides the monetary gain for individual employees).

That's like saying one doesn't understand why people play the lottery (besides the monetary gain from winning).

[papertiger]

No, it's not like saying that at all.

Playing or winning the lottery involves nothing but money. An acquisition involves major changes to an organization's structure, its products or services, and the lives of all its employees.

EDIT: Removed snarkiness.