I have no shame in admitting that I would rather use high-level mathematics and programming to play "multi-million dollar poker" on Wall Street than join half of the startups and big tech companies and have a boring job churning out insignificant apps at a desk.
In fact, the way you phrased it, being a quant sounds really fun :) you don't want to play multi-million dollar poker?
I mean, sure, meaning and existentialism and all that, but I bet it's at least somewhat exciting.
That's the fundamental problem. The function of the finance system in a healthy economy is to ensure efficient allocation of capital. Playing poker has a neutral to negative effect on the system.
Well you're the one who used the word poker, so I guess it depends on your definition here...but the financial system somewhat revolves around poker.
Valuations of companies are only important to investors because of the inherent gambling. If you purchase capital at a single valuation that never rises or falls, what's the point? Even an index fund pursues gradual increases over time.
...Or am I building a strawman here? Is this not where you were going?
In fact, the way you phrased it, being a quant sounds really fun :) you don't want to play multi-million dollar poker?
I mean, sure, meaning and existentialism and all that, but I bet it's at least somewhat exciting.