I think the biggest thing missing from this conversation and thought process is the change in the value of money over time. Basically - it is a lot different to

I think the biggest thing missing from this conversation and thought process is the change in the value of money over time. Basically - it is a lot different to have lower relative purchasing power these days in terms of quality of life tradeoffs. Once upon a time, an "ordinary" job afforded tolerable income, reasonable area, reasonable commute. Think about silicon valley in the days of wozniak. Imagine the live choices made by Jobs, and look where he landed. Now, you need a top 10-20% income to live in a decent neighborhood within 30 minutes of a major metropolitan era. Rather than make quasi-totalitarian statements about "what people should do" in the face of otherwise rational choices, perhaps we should instead wonder about what kinds of government policies have been made (fiscal etc) that put pressure on people to feel they "must" make 100k or else. If people have greater freedom to accept an opportunity, without fear that the change in pay will lead to a material change in living conditions, then this problem may well solve itself.