"Advice" isn't a commodity. How much it's worth depends entirely on who it's coming from and whether they back it up with action. YC fight hard for the startups they invest in.

For that 6% you're not getting idle advice, you're getting YC on your team. It's a rare early-stage startup indeed whose value this wouldn't increase by more than 6.4%. For most, getting into YC is a state change and has profound effects.

Since by the looks of things you've created an anonymous account specifically to question whether YC is worth 6% of a startup, I think at this point you should either back up your assertions with something credible or be dismissed as a drive-by troll.

6% of What? 6% of an idea you have? Again, this is just my viewpoint... but I'd rather have a part of something instead of all of nothing.

If you're generating killer revenue, have other investors throwing you term sheets like roses at a matador... Then don't do it. Giving up 6% of your company might not make sense... unless there is a chance YC could help you significantly increase your revenue or valuations... and in that case the 6% is worth it.

Anyway, I don't mean to blow YC's trumpet. It won't make sense for everybody... it did for us and I'm really glad we did.

Well.. Depends really. The benefits you receive is not limited to that one company (people you meet, network, advice, etc)... Those transfer with you if you later start another company, and another. It could turn out to be really cheap in the long run.