> There aren’t that many opportunities for people these days, especially at the senior level where titles and compensation is still inflated due to 2020-2022 grants.

You are joking, right? Apple, SpaceX and Microsoft are not the only game in town.

I'd even say Microsoft & SpaceX pays is lower than many other big tech

What big companies that have equal or better branding are have fully remote jobs for seniors contributors?

I am sure you can name a couple, but I am skeptical that there are that many comparable roles available within those companies at this time.

Personally, I don't care about branding at all but for the money and atmosphere. From career PoV, it's also important that the company, or its tech department if it's not pure tech, is very large. This has several benefits: I deal with technologies at scale, I can migrate to other big company, I can also migrate internally if I wish. And, since there are many folks around, there is usually no high pressure on working 110% like in (some) startups. There are many companies like these and the pay for seniors is excellent.

SpaceX is well-known for low salaries.

They may have retired. Past a certain point you are in it because you love it, and if you no longer love it, there are better things in life than gilding the lily of a nest egg.

A lot of people in my demographic have amassed roughly "fuck most people" money rather than "fuck everyone" money. Beyond a certain point, it's easier to coast on your nest egg and do other things like family, volunteering, or living a slower life rather than relent to reactive, rudderless corporate bullshit like RTO.