&gt; technology is not the primary driver of value most of the time<p>Most probably. My advice is just that it is a bad idea for a software engineer to work in an environment where technology is clearly not the primary driver of value.<p>&gt;  Uber pays them more because they need the best and the market is very competitive, but there is absolutely no link to the bottom line.<p>Without internet platform, there would be no Uber at all.<p>It would be like saying: &quot;Their warships are not the essence of the Navy. The Navy wants the best ships, but there is absolutely no link to winning naval battles.&quot;