I really don't get why anyone who can choose when to stop working and whose compensation is not hourly would ever work longer hours. Your time doesn't belong to your employer.
Also there are students who don’t stop learning when they know they can ace their school exams... sometimes they are genuinely interested in the topic.
This isn’t a problem usually, but sometime I just want to do 1 extra hour to really understand a problem and it’s easier to donate that time to work.
> Human emotions are real and managers aren't just blindly following game theory
Absolutely, which means this isn't guaranteed. This isn't part of a companies DNA ( you could argue good people always get hired?). This isn't true for all work places. The truth is it depends on the people that work there and just like you mentioned that you could have caring emotional humans as managers, you can also have not-caring emotional humans as managers.
If I had to make a grand generalization about most workplaces then I think it's safer to say they would care more about money (for profit/staying in business) than I would say they care about making me, an employee, happy.
Having said that I've worked in great places where I don't feel it's 100% about the money. I know some of that feeling is genuine because of the people I work with. I also know that feeling is intended and is the primary focus of some departments in companies. I know that I'm in a field that has enjoys greater privileges than other workers.
I try to remind myself about this and I think I'm ok with saying that "it's 99% about the money for the employer". A bit cynical (or realist depending on your view).
That being said, when I was working full time job, I didn't mind working extra hours sometimes if it seemed like it was a legitimate need and was respectfully asked of me, but I did expect an equal amount of time off afterwards.