This seems like the possible outcomes for high profile startups and not necessarily most startups. I am relatively young (not even 30) and have already been a part of a startup that died a much quieter death, absent any fire sales or acqui-hires.

If anything it reinforces how powerful it is to be a high profile company. Then your company doesn't just die, it either salvages its resources as an acqui-hire/firesale (which clearly isn't good but it's something) or survives unglamorously. There are companies out there that cannot say they were "fortunate" enough for either of those things to occur.