I think point #4 is bang on. When a company gives you a bonus in your agreement you almost expect to get it. At that point it's almost part of your salary and looses most of the value.
Well written!
I was able to profitably launch http://www.committeebox.com for around 500 dollars. That cost includes hosting and such while testing. If I counted all the hours that I've put in we'd have a whole different story :P
What have you been working on for a year without launching?
I know a lot of people tend to bitch about Paypal but I think it's important to remember that there are a ton of cases where the service is fantastic. I for one was on the phone with them last night to sort out an issue. The rep was very knowledgeable and helpful. Just saying keep it in perspective!