1) "salaries both for new hires and more experienced people ultimately typically in a corporate world merge closer and closer together."
Even if true (not in my case), you'll never be able to make up the income gap. Twelve years is too long of a time. You'll never catch up. Plus, if you've been working for 10+ years and only earning slightly more than new hires, it's quite apparent you aren't exactly on the fast track to advancement.
2) "I also bought a house three years before that while you were still in college that I now own outright that is now worth three times what I paid for it."
Awesome. In true LRC fashion, I was able to live with the parents for my first four years out of college. Not a lot of outgo.
Nothing like socking away $250+K the first four years out of college. The majority of it was invested after the bubble burst. Do you know how much that four year investing period alone is worth today? Again, you'll never be able to catch up from that slow start and fortunate timing by me.
At least you go that mortgage deduction though. With all that interest you paid, is it REALLY worth three times what you PAID for it? I love when people say ignorant things like that.
3) "When I graduated from college, my first apartment rent in the SF Bay area was $400 a month."
Pretty special. From the sounds of it, that was about all you could afford.
4) "Also, like I said, I am not in that business anymore. I struck out on my own really only to have more freedom, but I have ended up making a lot more than I did then and than I would be now if I stayed doing what I was doing in 2001."
Let's be serious. It's not like you could be earning any LESS. As I said above, you apparently weren't going anywhere fast in your corporate job.
5) "Just apples to oranges here really."
No kidding, right?