Dividends are taxed at a lower rate than salary and other forms of ordinary income. If a company has surplus money, it should eventually be remitted to the equity holders as dividends. I guess it doesn't need to be, though.
Employee options pools tend to be maintained at 10-15% of the company. Unless you are a cofounder, very-early employee, or recruited-big-exec in a growth phase, your equity, AND importantly, ALL the equity from your employee peers sums to less than whatever the VCs+Founders want. Ideally your interests are aligned, and any gain they get your share-in (albeit in a much smaller amount). But things like preferred shares getting liquidation preferences screw with this calculous, as to differing investment horizons.
