[88e282102ae2e5b]

That's all true, but the question is why is this more prevalent among programmers than any other group. That opportunity cost is really quite cheap for most programmers, especially if you just enjoy the work. Worst case scenario, you can add something to your resume.

[mingus68040]

With salaries of over $100k available to programmers, I'd say the opportunity cost of a startup venture is pretty high. It takes years of determination and time for a startup to pay off, and most do not.