[daxfohl]

Similar boat. I've found work quality wise it also comes down largely to the people. A traditional new-product "startup" has a lot more potential for a monomaniac egotistical founder that interferes in everything you do, appreciates nothing, and makes things miserable, far more personally so than the "big corp beaurocracy" people complain about (and yet still pay less than them). Big corp you can usually at least transfer departments / managers if things get too out of sorts. For me the best fit has been the small consulting agency; diverse projects with lots of flexibility, and stable enough to recognize the value of good employees and usually give decent raises and benefits.