> That doesn't mean it's okay to benefit from their ignorance Seems to me that a startup offering real pay is not taking advantage of anyone. The shady way of

> That doesn't mean it's okay to benefit from their ignorance Seems to me that a startup offering real pay is not taking advantage of anyone. The shady way of doing things is to say "Hey, I'll offer you these options instead of real pay, and they will be worth X in a few years time". Then during work: "Hey, can you work a bit more, it's your money on the line too". That is how you take advantage of people. You cannot be angry not winning the lottery when you didn't pay for the ticket.