Not when the best the nimble upstarts are offering in positions where equity is on the table are options, not shares.

I’m all for more employee ownership and engagement from being a shareholder in addition to an employee, but I’d love to see startups equally interested in that.

I don't think you want this. Even in a firm that is under 10 mil., if you are granted hard equity, you're going to be liable for taxes on those shares, which will be extremely illiquid. Options or RSUs let you have your cake and eat it too, at a small price.

You're right - I don't want to touch equity any more. I know how to buy stocks and bonds for mid-to-long term investments, I hope and expect my next employer to prioritize cash/salary-based compensation.

The choice depends on your risk tolerance/aversion.

With larger companies stock grants are of little value to gain.

I joined GrubHub 3 months before the stock tanked. I haven't even vested the first tranche, before my RSUs tanked over 2x.

Thank god I learned enough in my life, to demand cash sign on bonus... that ended up being larger than the RSU grant.

Remember the golden rule - $1k today, is better than possible $10k in 4 years. (feel free to scale it up as you wish)