I quit because A) I realized that the academia is a bit rotten in some specific aspects (the linked article and the post by peterburkimsher are not instances of what I have in mind; I think both are mostly wrong and/or pointless), and B) money.

Regarding what I'm doing now, let me know if you want to talk in private. Nothing too exciting though.

This is not that atypical. I am on the same situation: PhD in physics (particle BTW) and left for industry.

The main reasons were: I am not that good of a physicist, feudalism in the academia (socially speaking), I fell in love with IT, extraordinary opportunity in industry. All the stars were aligned for a week and I took the opportunity.

I love physics (and science in general) but what I do now in industry is fantastic (in broadly speaking IT). The opportunities for advancement other than age based are better too (not that this is a rule in academia, but it was where I was).

And money is such that my family is secure no matter what happens to me.