On a good day, I'd say we do it because it can be fun and rewarding. It's an escape from the regular daily grind; something beyond the drudgery of say React, CRUD, the frequent silliness of business logic requirements, or whatever the mundane might be at your own workplace. It can also earn us the respect of those peers whom we ourselves respect the most. A knowing smile and a nod between us is priceless. Maybe we each count ourselves lucky that at least we were spared the other's tribulations.

My own efforts don't quite earn me "the big bucks" that I read about at companies I'll actually never work for. Just a respectable east coast income that I shouldn't complain too much about. Don't know that I'd be happier anywhere else anyway. The bills get paid while I'm making the world a better place.

On a bad day, I'd say we do it because we're suckers for punishment. It's in our nature.