Can someone tell me, what's the actual BENEFIT to working at Amazon? Do people really go there simply because of the name? It doesn't seem like there's any reason for talent to go there as opposed to somewhere else?
I develop software for within the Amazon fulfillment centers (FCs). I get a lot of opportunities to fly around to various FCs, meet people, improve tools, reduce complexity. I try to make life a bit easier for the folks putting in four 10-hour shifts per week doing actual hard jobs. It's a really interesting environment, and it's the kind of place where 1% improvements are worth millions.
That kind of stuff motivates me.
They've also treated me really well. I started in Seattle, but really wanted to be in Toronto where my then-girlfriend (now wife) was living. A few months later, I'd transferred to a team in the Toronto office. I rarely work more than 45 hours/week, sometimes 50 if it's really bad. Hours are flexible. Good opportunities to learn and grow as well.
It's not a perfect company, but I'm enjoying being here.
[1]: (Non-Americans, substitute something like "Premier League" and "whatever league the Premier League relegates to")
But as with most of Amazon, I guess a lot of it has to do with the team that you're in.
I think you are seriously overestimating the quality difference between the people at these places.