As far as I know, having an "exit strategy" is a way to ensure that the founder(s) have a planned far enough to know if this idea->product->business is one that

As far as I know, having an "exit strategy" is a way to ensure that the founder(s) have a planned far enough to know if this idea->product->business is one that can stand on its own feet or is it one that can only survive as a part of a much larger company. Are those who have an exit strategy necessarily worse than someone who has none? What does my being in Silicon Valley have anything to do with it? If I sound indignant, it is because blanket criticism almost never captures any nuance. Exit strategies are like any other tool: Used well, they discipline the founder's thoughts and help maintain focus in the team. Used badly, they're likely to set the worst example for the team, for other founders and for people outside the Silicon Valley.