You make good points, especially the one where ppl see the long hours worked as a badge of honour.

I was self employed for all of my younger working life, I had a group of friends in the same situation, we used to denigrate "9 to 5'ers", we felt superior, we worked harder, we made more money, faster

But there was a price, you lose perspective, lose the ability to think critically, lose your goals and generally make more bad decisions , simply because you are just mentally numbed, dull and sleepwalking through everything, lurching from one "buzz moment/event" to the next

Work smarter not harder, a good 9-5 with good social support, a learning framework, time for life is a very valuable thing imo. The "hustle" is like a drug, good at first, fun, alluring, empowering, but very harmful if consumed long-term and to excess.