Hey, thanks for the link. I've had a vaguely similar path (quantum info PhD -> short software stint -> lectureship -> software/data job). Your list of benefits really resonated with me.

For myself at least I would add job security as another benefit. I struggled in vain for 6-7 months during my lectureship applying to any and all postdocs I could find, so the prospect of cycling through 2-3 year postdocs in various locations eventually overwhelmed me. I loved the research but realised I didn't love it enough to potentially live apart from my partner and regularly go through months-long application processes.

On the flip side, for me freedom is actually something I miss from academia. Admittedly that's partly because I'm a regular employee rather than a freelancer. Outside of teaching, my time was basically my own and I was free to work from home or anywhere else. I'm somewhat resentful of having to justify what I'm spending my time on day by day. Not that my manager would particularly mind if I spent a day researching something slightly blue-sky, but the fact that I might have to respond to questions about it creates this background tinge of anxiety that I find prevents deep creative thought.