>I have dignity and I'd like to keep it.

it's not about dignity, it's about history. That's why those FAANGs offered crazy salaries before tapering off some 5 years ago.

The last thing they wanted was for the true 10x'ers to become tomorrow's competition, or for others to work for such 10x'ers. Because if such an engineer could make a 10m/yr business vs being hired for 100k, many would take that business opportunity.

>Shareholders contribute nothing to society.

they contribute money, and that's all that matters. quality, long term profitability, and worker dignity be damned.