It looks like you've had a disappointing run of it in the corporate world: not surprising. Most of us can relate. My experience is a little more fortunate as I moved to Silicon Valley when I was young and full of dreams. I have experienced both the soul crushing mediocrity and bullying of the B team, and the inspiring side of work, where I'm close to a founder or design group that is changing the world.

One point that you're missing: I hate mediocrity even more than I hate shitty jobs and bully management culture. I cannot possibly be happy doing some stupid low-stress job that has no future and no meaning. So I'm willing to risk *some* stress and unpleasantness if it has a chance of elevating me out of the giant morass of low paid people in shithouse jobs.