Comment by rcxdude

Equity is compensation, just illiquid, risky compensation. If you're wanting to get a wage (liquid, low-risk compensation) as well, expect to trade it against equity (which will naturally happen: if you're a founder being paid a wage, you're being paid it with the VC money which you have gotten by giving them some of your equity for some small fraction of what you expect the equity to be worth if you succeed). If you believe in the company (or at least rate the chances of success as more than the VCs do), it's rational to minimise the amount you trade away in equity for short-term needs or risk-reduction.