> The truth is, employers are willing to pay $180k, but if someone would work for $110k[1], they'd rather find that out in advance.

That is exactly why I refuse to negotiate over compensation: I don't want to work with people who have that kind of cheapskate attitude. If they want me, they can express that by making a good offer. If the offer is low, none of the possible reasons are good for me. Why waste time haggling? Better to just move on.