I agree that it would be nice if it were easier to be a research scientist, and I certainly support more funding for basic science research, but mostly because

I agree that it would be nice if it were easier to be a research scientist, and I certainly support more funding for basic science research, but mostly because I think it's important, not necessarily because scientists are especially exploited. If you are really good, connected, or lucky, and are willing to make the requisite "sacrifices," then you can end up in a permanent research scientist role. I put "sacrifices" in quotes because these are many careers that people choose to go into (social work, community organizing, arguably teaching) that require much greater sacrifices and would be equally irrational if one were not passionate about the work. The correct response is probably that all these groups should be compensated better, and I (perhaps selfishly) agree, but right now. a research scientist is a much cushier, more prestigious, job than a social worker, and arguably marginally less important to society. (more disclosure: my wife is a social worker) If, like most, you aren't able to get a permanent research job, or aren't willing to make the "sacrifices", you can go into industry, where (usually) you will make much more money but not get to work on things as interesting. If you hadn't gone into a PhD program, this is likely where you would have ended up in the first place. There is some opportunity cost of reduced total earnings (even if you get a higher salary with a PhD, it's likely you would have made up for that by not being a low-paid graduate student or postdoc for so long), but if you are passionate about science, then at least you will have spent 5-10 years doing it before getting a "real job." I, like most of my peers, do want to end up being a researcher, but I harbor no illusion that this is the most likely eventual outcome. If I can't find a comfortable arrangement, I'll leave the field, do something else and be no worse off for it. I do realize that I am fortunate to be in a field (experimental high energy physics) where the impedance mismatch to industry is relatively good. Other fields may require different ratios of passion to "sacrifice" to be a good choice.