There is a hugely underserved population out there... those who are the least capable of paying pay the highest.
Some people say that watching pay freezes in the government is like watching water freeze. It expands.
This is going to sound completely absurd, but I do sometimes feel like the enjoyment of an awards ceremony or the pride in the finished article hasn't ever surpassed the joy of doing the work, of making it. The doing it is really the bit I'm there for.