But this is what kills me when companies get so hellbent in their IP assignment/agreements when bringing in a new employee that I might create something. Provide me the environment to do so at work or allow me to do so on my own time. The former isn't happening, so…

The reality of the situation is that, if I'm not so drained from the mind-numbing soul-crushing CRUD work that I feel like doing more when I get home, I'm sure as hell not going to work on anything remotely related to my employer's line of work. I get quite enough of that at work. I'm going to work on problems that matter to me, and that seems to be stuff that really doesn't matter to my employer.