Re: The best job & worse, worser, worsest (totally agree, sirs)
"... is the one you want to do."
Spot on. +1 to your post.
"So , all Nuclear Plant Decontamination Technicians (165) can console themselves - they could have ended up as a Photojournalists (189) , Choreographers (181), or even, god forbid, Disk Jockeys (174)"
+1 to your post too. I'd rather be a Photojournalist (189) , Choreographer (181), or even, god forbid, Disk Jockey (174) or all three if I got paid the same money as being a Software Engineer so that could still do Software Engineering as a hobby, rather than the other way round!
This really is a pointless survey, with flawed criteria. Though I'm grateful doing a job that is paid reasonably well, is creative, is meaningful and relevant in today's society. I use some of my earnings to fund satisfying activities where my job falls short.
My only complaints are that 1) software engineering jobs tend to be in Blandsville Newton Business/Industrial Park "Campus"s 2) having to be in the same four walls every day with the same people and 3) a shortage of time for other things.