You make some very interesting points. I would be very interested to read about your future deliberations, if you post them anywhere (your bio links to your website).
I don't write personal stuff there. If you leave me an email- if you want, I will make sure to let you know if I write something in the line of our communication.
You use your brains to solve interesting problems, at least sometimes.
And even if you are an IAS, after your district posting ends, you are just another government servant. Doing repeatative jobs, bound to an office.
Will I even like that life 20 years later?
And the income in UPSC jobs is too low. Lower than doctors or techies (I make close to an entry level IAS now).
Another point to consider is:
Once you learn programming, you are always a programmer.
Once you are a doctor, you are always a doctor.
But your status as IAS is solely tied to your job. You leave or you retire- you are a nobody again.
Honestly, I don't have enough information to decide. I am postponing making this decision as much as I can.
Thank you for your comment, anyway.