Who is arguing otherwise? We're not allowed to gripe without implying it was unfair?

I think it sucks, and as a user that bought the app strictly to support future progress I feel abandoned. I don't really give a shit if I have a "say" or not in their decisions. I don't like how it went down. Assuming they leave Google and launch another startup (which we all know they will) I certainly won't be supporting them in the future.

Just as I have no say in their progress, they have no say on how I choose to characterize their departure. I say, they took the money and ran. I prefer devs I can trust to stick around.

You think that another person should turn down (what was likely) enough money to support their families for the rest of their lives because you invested $10 in their email application? This is what you believe?

Sparrow isn't Instagram. Most acqui-hires lately have been, essentially, large signing bonuses. Six figures per founder. Not "FU" money.

Any high six figures (say, over .5 million) figure is actually FU money, as long as you can invest reasonably safely and well and have modest living standards.

I'm amazed at how often I read here that even a million is pocket change that changes nothing on the receivers life.

Are you familiar with how expensive it is to live here? You cannot buy a decent house in a fair school district for less than $500k. Probably more like $750k. For two bedrooms.

I live where a house with two bedrooms costs more than a million. I'm certain half a million would significantly change my life.

I just don't need such a house.

Then move. Living somewhere that costs that much is a luxury good.

The Bay Area is the center of the universe of software development. Not that you can't work as a software engineer elsewhere (I have) but you have a limitless amount of interesting work here.

And while costs are higher, salaries are much higher as well.

It's absurd to act like a $500k payout puts you on easy street.

Well, give me the 500k payout, I'll gladly take that hard street.

It's absurd to act as if it's pocket change. Upon receiving that kind of money, you just leave the valley and move elsewhere doing the work you want to do, living off the interests.

Well, unless all you want to do is working for somebody else on the valley :)

Well it's good that these developers have you to plan their financial futures. It'd be a shame if nobody was looking out for their interests.

Well, the number being reported in this particular case is $25 million, split between their 5 person team.

That would certainly be a good payday. Were there no investors?

Not at all. Did you even read my comment? I said they burned their goodwill.

If it really was enough for them to live on and comfortably leave development, then kudos to them. They don't need that goodwill anymore from us. Assuming they come back with another startup a couple years down the line, which we all know they will, then we'll see if it was a smart decision.