I've lived there years ago. It is a tech hub, but it's considerably smaller in most areas and has a less innovative business culture. A tell for this is the pejorative use of the word "cowboy" for someone that doesn't do things by the book. It's something you never hear elsewhere, not even in the Midwest or Texas.

It's also way too classist and aristocratic in its thinking. Where you went to school basically informs a caste system.

Climate aside though, it is a nicer city. It has more usable (though quite old) transit, is very walkable, clean, low crime, and is much more affordable than the Bay Area (though still pricey).

Yes. Interestingly, 80%+ of the world's Ion Implanters for semiconductor fabrication are designed in Greater Boston by Applied Materials (formerly Varian Semiconductor) and Axcelis (formerly Eaton). Implanters are serious science and engineering[0] machines with nearly $2 Billion worth sold in 2020.

[0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doping_(semiconductor)