[slurry]

Yeah, you can find basically identical complaints (not always prestige-format essays though) from bio, chem and physics PhD's. Those job markets are nearly as bad as humanities and social sciences. And since pharma is in a state of disarray, the job prospects in industry aren't so hot either.

[dnautics]

I do think that chem, bio, and physics PhDs who quit are less needy in the "need to broadcast it with an essay" department. I am tempted to write one, but only because I'm bootstrapping my nonprofit research operation and want eyes on it.

[slurry]

I think most of the humanists writing these are trying to bootstrap a longform journalism career and want eyes on it. ;)

[dnautics]

more than that in the humanities, the identity of the academe is hugely invested in producing words. In the sciences and engineering fields, the identity of the academe is hugely invested in producing data, results, or products.