My area was computer science and from my personal experience I saw a lot of what you're talking about. These people are hyper competitive and sunk a good chunk

My area was computer science and from my personal experience I saw a lot of what you're talking about. These people are hyper competitive and sunk a good chunk of their young adult life in this stuff. It is at that part a big part of their identity. There are easier things to do, it's not like tenure at a state university salary is some big prize for someone who is competitive at a top department--they have the smarts and drive to have much better salary and plenty of job security elsewhere. I knew plenty of people who were total maniacs after tenure, it made no difference. Lots of people slowed down a little, but only because they were so fried. Most research I've observed is still safe and boring (IMHO) because it's more likely to land papers and grants. No one uses their tenure to really do anything daring hardly--you can't, you'd fuck your students. They still need publications! So we were all in a never-ending publishing grind. With or without tenure it never ends so long as you still have students and care about their future.