For some people, sure! There are dozens of other metrics that can be used to evaluate a remote work environment, and for a lot of people "my salary matches my coworkers" doesn't matter as long as it's a good wage relative to what they'd be able to get working in an office locally.

You stance seems to be you can't be the best unless you do _everything_ better than everyone else.

Why would you judge what I want as an employee. If I am happy living in a low cost of living area with the salary I am getting, why is it your problem to worry for me ?