0) Hype comes from shock value. Startups can create shocks (innovation, disruption, fortunes made, fortunes lost etc). Perfect media material. No wonder there's

0) Hype comes from shock value. Startups can create shocks (innovation, disruption, fortunes made, fortunes lost etc). Perfect media material. No wonder there's hype. 1) Tech startuppers are tech savvy. They also tend to have strong opinions about stuff.They write/blog/tweet/comment a lot. Adds to the general noise around startups. 2) Possibly, noise about why startups rock helps reduce insecurities for some. It probably helps, given that startup life can be hard. 3) Nothing wrong with people trying to do their job well. Just that discipline, integrity, hard-work are less glamorous than a "brilliant idea that changed the world". Fact is, any successful startup needs discipline, integrity and hardwork - multiplied by two. 4) The opinion of a .NET programmer (irrespective of what he/she earns) matters. Especially, if its about .NET programming. Or about a product that I'm making. But I'd take his/her opinion on general startups less seriously. 5) I don't live in the US. Where I live, there isn't too much hype around startups. Indication that it might be a SV or US only thing. 6) I'm an accidental startupper. I landed here by simply moving away from jobs I didn't like. I haven't done very well (yet), but I'm happy with what I'm doing. I'd do it again. May be there's more to people starting up than hype. May be it has to do with (sic) the joy of creation. May be it has to do with the kick of having a large population use something you made. May be its a drug :) Who knows