I have family in the third world. They routinely pick something akin to "go to prison for X months" (AKA work as crew on a wretched, poor conditions merchant ship) for what in their country looks like a fat stash of money.

Based on these observations I'm quite certain the length of time makes a difference. I'm quite certain that the ones that stomach several months would not be willing to be gone for 10x that. There's a reason why even in desperate wars soldiers are allowed to return to families at least once a year or so.