Yeah the sort of places that split dev into front end and back end will pay less. Kind of like the places that split software development into analysis, design and typing in. The typists always get paid less, that is why I always insist on being involved in every step of the process from the customer's concept through to turning the software into money.

Given equal talent and level of skill, do backend developers really make more than frontend? I used to think this, but now I think there are simply a lot more marginal programmers doing frontend programming (ease of entry) that bring the average down. My company recently bumped up the referral bonus for frontend developers to $10k, twice as high as the referral rate for developers in general.

Yes they are. Hop across the border to Seattle or NYC with a TN visa if you want to stay close to home and your salary will literally double. Don't worry about health insurance since if your not employed, you not allowed to be in the USA for long anyways. And seattle is half price compared to vancouver. You'll bitch about the $200+ border penalty for flights although.