Very well said, Dropp.
Huddling behind a seniority number clinging to the hope of making it to the pension, and having control over your own financial destiny - as ****ty as it may be at times as an expat - are two very different things.
They each have their pros and cons, and to each their own, but there's no comparison.
The glory days of EK may be over, but the principles remain the same. Trade security for risk, and you may just win big. Or lose.
But at least it ain't boring.