[jonathanjaeger]

"...further into a start-up that'll scar their CVs and render future employment more difficult". Let's not be so cynical. If you're a quality engineer or designer I have a hard time believing being part of an ecommerce startup that didn't make it as a scar that will render further employment difficult. Loyalty and seeing things through during dark times can be admirable in some employers' minds.

Sure, people might take a pay cut to work at a startup, but if they believe in the vision that's perfectly fine. Are we going to criticize poets, musicians, comedians, teachers, or other people who don't make high six-figure VP of Engineering salaries because "they could have made more" in a cubicle somewhere else?