I hope you're right, and that this perception just comes from startupdom. Actually, come to think of it, I think you probably are correct. But a more accurate

I hope you're right, and that this perception just comes from startupdom. Actually, come to think of it, I think you probably are correct. But a more accurate quote would be "the most well paid best minds of my generation are busy getting people to click on ads." I do know of people doing incredibly cool stuff in industry and academia, and none of them are making what the ad-analytics and finance people are making. In many cases they are making a graduate stipend (read: vow of poverty) and have poor employment prospects post-graduation (if they actually want to use their degree).