[pheon]

Its interesting reading all the comments here, and think most of it misses the OP`s point. That software development as a JOB means working coherently with other people / teams. The result: you need to be complicit to work effectively within that team/companies imaginary tower/religion. Otherwise you`ll loose your job or become "that" PITA engineer.

What`s worked well for myself is starting a small niche tech business. We`re small and focused on resolving customer problems. Not bickering over class hierarchy, design rules or other crap thats irrelevant to building products that customers really enjoy.