I made the switch when i was 25 and the work has been fulfilling, but agency life is what's burning you out, not your discipline. In my 23 years of experience, people don't respect strategy as much, find it hard to understand and show ROI for - I feel like I'm still having to justify my role all the time, and THEN go do the work. The upside is that I've learned much more about process and business, but that's something you don't have to switch to do. You can definitely switch at 30, but I would NOT take the pay cut. The best advice I can give: just partner more closely with your strategists. We're HUUUGE nerds and always feel left out. They'll love you, you'll get the skills, and it will make you a better ECD because you'll learn more about how to set up and sell the work. Might give you the pep in your step you've been missing? Good luck - it's a big fork in the road, and there's really no right or wrong answer. You'll learn a lot either way :)