Well yes of course, but that's only one side of the story. In almost any scenario, you need other people's help. Offering equity can be an excellent way to get

Well yes of course, but that's only one side of the story. In almost any scenario, you need other people's help. Offering equity can be an excellent way to get that help, especially in a startup context. Yes, you lose in percentage terms, but the final numbers are all that matters really. Would you rather have 100% of $1m, or 50% of $1b?