How many have you turned down that would have yielded zero?
> Quitting a six-figure job, forgoing income for a year-plus, taking the risks of never getting liftoff or financing, taking another year or more at way-below-market angel-funded salary...
Absent forgoing income entirely, most seed-stage employees take the same amount of risk.
> you're getting all of the career and relationship equity of having been a key player on a huge success.
The problem is that every founder is selling this vision to early hires, but joining a seed-stage company is almost always too early to determine whether you're joining a huge success or a company that will flame out in any of a hundred ways.
> I would argue that early-stage roles, if you can tolerate the opportunity cost over the near term, are one of the better deals going
I would argue that early-stage roles at companies that become successful are one of the better deals going.
> and likely (though only arguably) better than being an under-ready founder with a high likelihood of failure.
In my experience being a founder is a much better teacher than being an under-ready early-stage employee. Being responsible for the success of the company provides opportunities for growth like nothing else.