Putting aside how this is such a unique opportunity and just looking at the financial compensation aspects of being asked to live in a remote facility: wouldn't this be an awesome way to save up money for a few years? All living expenses are paid while you are down there and there is nowhere to spend money.
I've known a number of people who have worked in Antarctica on and off over the past decade. I knew a post doc in physics who went down there and was taxiing people around during his first season. Whoever ends up with this job doesn't care about the money. They have probably been looking to go to Antarctica for a while. My guess is they already travel extensively and their family and friends are used to it. As for civilization... they are probably looking to get away from it.
But there is still a limited civilization in Antarctica and there are some benefits to being a member of it: a unique/rare experience, a cool culture, interesting people. I can't be the only one that thinks it would be cool to be a programmer in Antarctica hacking on a new $275 million neutrino observatory.
Heck... I would if it weren't to program using Java...
And it's at the South Pole!! No-one really wants to work on an Oil Rig - so they pay lots. Lots of people would love to go visit Antarctica - so they don't need to offer up the big bucks
This gig, or gigs very similar, have been posted for years now. I believe the expiration date of the job post is just a limitation of the UW's recruitment system/process; you could quite likely still apply.
The first time you come down for the adventure.
The second time for the money.
And the third time because you can't function anywhere else anymore.