The utility of money decreases as you have more of it.
The first $100k a year is huge. The second $100k a year is useful. By the time you're at 300k, 400k, the utility is very low unless you just really enjoy collecting sports cars.
I have a nice home. It is 25 years old, but I do a lot of work on it myself. I have a nice enough vehicle that is reliable. I can afford whatever books I want, to go hiking wherever, and whatever I want at the grocery store.
Why would I give up a work environment I like, with great food and no commute, where I can have it quiet as a mouse, just to make more money that wouldn't make a difference to my life?
> The utility of money decreases as you have more of it.
I think this is an important point. Especially for well-paid professions I'm betting that most companies cannot afford to pay high enough salaries to get skilled developers to work in person and they'll either make do with early-career folks or realize being in-person isn't actually as critical as they thought.
> Why would I give up a work environment I like ... just to make more money that wouldn't make a difference to my life?
For someone without the nasty habit of consumerism the only thing that comes to mind would be the ability to "retire" early and work on whatever projects or organizations light your fancy. (Teaching, non-profit work, hiking the Appalachian Trail, local government, home improvements, open source...)
Not trying to convince anyone, mind you, just answering your question why someone might do that. I worked with some folks who retired in their early thirties after a few 18-month stints with overtime+hazard pay. Not my cup of tea, but they seem to enjoy working on their motorcycles.
The first $100k a year is huge. The second $100k a year is useful. By the time you're at 300k, 400k, the utility is very low unless you just really enjoy collecting sports cars.
I have a nice home. It is 25 years old, but I do a lot of work on it myself. I have a nice enough vehicle that is reliable. I can afford whatever books I want, to go hiking wherever, and whatever I want at the grocery store.
Why would I give up a work environment I like, with great food and no commute, where I can have it quiet as a mouse, just to make more money that wouldn't make a difference to my life?