in the programming profession it's relatively well-understood that, as long as they can get by OK, programmers don't care that much about the money -- it's the quality of experience that matters)

Oh Bruce Eckel, you crazy old hippie. I hope your kids aren't trying to send you to the nursing home after reading this!

(The rest of this essay, however, is excellent weekend reading, especially the part where he highlights why MS is getting destroyed by Apple!! Highly recommended for that alone!)