It's a common tale, the golden handcuffs conundrum. What I'd suggest is considering the maxim: "The long run is made up of a series of short runs." Right now, you're doing short runs that don't satisfy you. That compensation, as glorious as it is, doesn't feel so heavy in your pocket when your day-to-day lacks substance and joy.

You were probably hoping to craft cathedrals, not lay bricks. This mismatch between expectation and reality is jarring and, sadly, rather commonplace. But remember, the skills you truly love can be kept sharp outside of work hours. It's not ideal, but it's a measure to prevent skill atrophy and keep passion alive.

The good news? The tech industry is vast. There's always a corner where code is king and where a day's work leaves fingerprints on the actual product. It might pay less—sometimes much less—but the intellectual and emotional reward can compensate.