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> (f) I'm not mature enough not to buy into all this "ramen founder" BS aspiration stories

This is the biggest message I got from the article. Everything about it screams that the author is someone you shouldn't trust with your time and/or money.

> (e) I signal employees that I'm all for "sacrifice" and thus not professional, and not a good place to work (e.g. if I had any loose excuse to sacrifice them and their compensation, I'd do it in an instant).

That one rings truest to me and was part of one work experience I had in the past. The owners "buy" a lottery ticket using everyone else's wages and time, but it's "cool" because you're "living the dream."

Furthermore, living at poverty level for 1-2 years, especially in New York, eventually gets depressing because you'll have to deny yourself a lot of experiences.

Be like the Buddha in your pursuits. Reject asceticism and extreme indulgence and find the middle path. You and your possible future employees will thank you.

(c) I'm thrifty where it doesn't matter

Exactly, it absolutely does not matter as much as this person thinks. Investors don't value money the same way you do. This a nice gesture that will be quickly forgotten, an oddity.