jwz made out all right, he got the startup lotto. But most people won't. And I'm not keen on seeing underpay and overwork glorified in some song and dance by a CEO/VC/$etc. Cui bono.

Of course, if someone wants to pour blood, sweat, tears, health, and their life into a company, that is of course their choice. But I think they should own both that risk and that reward for that risk. I think that if an employee is asked to go without, then the employee should also own the reward as well. It is a basic principle of investing: higher risk carries higher rewards (otherwise you don't invest).

If the employee with a family who works 80 hours a week and sleeps under his desk wants to write a paen of glory to their lifestyle, that I will respect. They will know of what they write.

I think I would rather be underpaid in graduate school, personally.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cui_bono