>I think the article misses the point: are we now in an era where you actually expect to get stock when you join a company?

If you join with the expectation of stock or are sold on stock as part of your package then yes. Based on the article, people were offered stock contingent on another funding round. That round never happened. If they were sold on promises of getting that stock and a round happening then they're right to be pissed.

This has, as I read it, nothing to do with a company that just decides to not give out promises of stock in any form.