Sounds more like it.

I’m not really in tech, and took about a 20% pay decrease (on-paper) for public sector pay.

But they pay 12% on top of my salary to a real pension plan, I get 1-2 extra holidays that most others don’t get. I get paid to be on-call. Better disability insurance. Education fund. Benefits package includes RMT massage therapy without a prescription. Better parental leave coverage.

When you add it up, the “lower-pay” in public sector ignores total compensation, but probably is true in tech.

I’ll take a good paycheque over a games room and free snacks.

Public sector employees don't get social security benefits because their employer doesn't pay payroll taxes. So be sure to factor that in.