What is stopping super duper browser guy from launching his own browser with his own company, reaping all the rewards himself? I really don’t understand your attitude at all.
Are there any independent browser companies? What's the business model? Nobody will pay for a browser. If you work in this area, you need a well funded patron that sees a browser as strategic.
A browser is strategic, hence Steve Jobs getting pissed.
Starting your own company also requires specialist and generalist skills that a browser engineer doesn't have, and exposes him to risk that won't be worth it to a rock star developer.
Did you notice the part where Sergey Brin was intimated by Steve Jobs in the email threatening him with war if he starts a browser? Probably that part.