Writer are like hackers, yes. But the reason most salesmen like to work hard is that they're paid on commission. That's very different.
Also, since most workers don't love their job, it is probably also true that good programmers are unlike many workers. To say that programmers are unlike many TYPES OF workers we'd have to believe that a higher proportion of programmers love their job than do workers in other types of work. From what I have seen on HN (albeit sample biased) I'd say that is true.
People like to make a difference. Good ones, anyway.
They like to get paid for it, they can even be greedy. They like to get recognition for it, that can go to far too.
But they also enjoy making the sale.
to me, hacking > sales (no, charity/non-profit/giving away money doesn't count -> there's moral incentive there)