People fighting in wars get killed. People doing this at worst come away feeling like they've wasted/lost a few years of their life - life goes on - and at best come away feeling fulfilled and/or wealthier (what more can you ask for?).

I totally agree. It is an imperfect comparison, and by no means did I intend to directly compare the horrors of war with a few years spent in a hacker house. But it is interesting that the reasons quoted above can be used to justify so many levels of exploitation.

They used to call it "paying your dues". The fact is some of them will be exploited and get nothing, some of them will make a huge name for themselves and learn how to build businesses instead of following a traditional career path.

Personally if I had it to do over I would take my chances at being exploited in SV over the career prospects of doing things by the book in middle America; and fwiw I'm saying this as a college-educated late-comer to Silicon Valley (8 years ago at 28).

It feels this article prefers them to be sent to war than to send push requests.

Translation: "WE CAN PAY THEM IN MOUNTAIN DEW AND DORITOS"