I think part of the disconnect over the Away story is the changing nature of startup tech companies: As more and more companies are "tech companies" it is less and less okay for them to behave like tech companies Startup tech companies have, for decades, operated on an agreement that you'll work your ass off while a crazy/genius founder screams at and humiliates you in exchange for equity, and a chance to get rich. (Oh, sure, and change the world while you're at it.)