I do not think it is black and white. I myself sometimes have taken risks in my life, but I do not take huge risks all the time. I had to decide on this when I had my family and children. I am creating wealth by creating my Html5 Canvas based UI system on the side, but currently my family eats because of the money I get from a 'corporate job'.
And mine has always eaten because of the startup, or the consulting, or the speculative app development.
Starving is not really an option for software types. The real dichotomy is between living well and tightening the belt. The mental division is, Is taking a job risk worth sacrificing Anything At All?
The corporate job is lucrative, easy to get and keep, and if there is any stress you can blame it on the boss etc. Some folks crave a combination of those things. Others don't give a flying flip about them.
I think it is pretty black-and-white actually. I tell this story: Some folks are playing in the surf, paddling around, rowing small boats, diving for pearls. A tanker passes by, and folks are seen hanging over the rail yelling "Get out of the water! The tide is coming in! The waves are frightening! You're getting all wet!"
"It's ok!" we say. "I don't mind getting wet! If it storms, I'll capsize but I can swim."
All this is taken as hubris, arrogance, foolishness by those aboard the tanker. They leave the rail, shaking their heads and blogging about how their life is surely the best.
