I just wanted to make it more explicit since this issue isn't specific to software developers, every career grapples with the "right way" versus the "economical

I just wanted to make it more explicit since this issue isn't specific to software developers, every career grapples with the "right way" versus the "economically prudent way" in our (US) capitalistic society. That in and of itself isn't bad, take capitalism however you want, but the point is managing expectations to the reality that exists in front of us, not the one you wish it could be.