The distinction is super meaningful in this context.

- RSU compensation is used to prevent wage stickiness. It lets a firm pay really high wages when times are good and claw back that comp when times are bad.

- Stock options are a way to bait the gullible into working for low wages. Options cost non-hypergrowth companies nothing. As such, it doesn’t stop them from getting over the tips of their skis via labor costs. There is nothing to claw back / reduce.

So when the economy hits a snag, RSU heavy companies have a built in cost moderator whereas options based companies have to layoff.