It sounds cynical, but I think it is just being pragmatic. Once you recognize that the state holds a overwhelimng resources and only one mistake can land you in a world of hurt, joining a state hacking team seems like less annoying option.
You do sell your soul, but.. you get to test your black hat skills with the backing of state resources and immunities afforded to it all the while learning how to really not make that one mistake. Steady paycheck is just a bonus.
It is a price and a high one, but I can understand the motivations behind it.
There are many things I know I could do, that most people would find distasteful even if they are perfectly legal. Like working in the ad industry. I would prefer not to do them - but for the right price, why not? It'd better be damn high, because I can't easily see myself accepting. Still I can envision that in theory.
But working for a government? I can't. I put that on the same ethical scale as murder.
You do sell your soul, but.. you get to test your black hat skills with the backing of state resources and immunities afforded to it all the while learning how to really not make that one mistake. Steady paycheck is just a bonus.
It is a price and a high one, but I can understand the motivations behind it.