This is not that atypical. I am on the same situation: PhD in physics (particle BTW) and left for industry. The main reasons were: I am not that good of a phys

This is not that atypical. I am on the same situation: PhD in physics (particle BTW) and left for industry. The main reasons were: I am not that good of a physicist, feudalism in the academia (socially speaking), I fell in love with IT, extraordinary opportunity in industry. All the stars were aligned for a week and I took the opportunity. I love physics (and science in general) but what I do now in industry is fantastic (in broadly speaking IT). The opportunities for advancement other than age based are better too (not that this is a rule in academia, but it was where I was). And money is such that my family is secure no matter what happens to me.