I'm fairly convinced that there's a bimodal distribution of knowledge work in the world. In software, but not only in software. In any field whereby individual workers can make a significant difference to the bottom line (e.g. it's not commodity work).

People stuck in sick system jobs think that's just how the world is. The managers there are stuck in it too, so it becomes worse. The people who stick around tend to become bitter and think the world is all underpaid long-hours bureaucratic corporate shite.

I figure that the 'middle' path, of jobs that are sort of alright but not actually 'good', doesn't really exist, because there are feedback loops at both ends pushing companies away from the mean.

I have no real evidence for this other than it matching my personal experience and interacting with other people in various circumstances. It's happened more than a few times that I've interviewed somewhere and been offered half the market rate for silly amounts of responsibility by managers who seem surprised that I turn them down.