I used to work in academia in a field where salaries in financial and tech industries are pretty good. The best people left. Most who stayed were average at best with great egos. Only 1 person deserved to stay and he is now living in a shithole city, with a salary that is 1/3rd of mine as lecturer.
It is a broken system. We all had too much passion and were willing to sacrifice. They mistreated and exploited us. No regrets, only a deep sense of sadness