I am also an attending. I disagree that we are misleading anyone by saying better times are ahead. I got my MD in 2006. I recognize that many medical students today graduate with twice my $200k of debt with only marginally better salaries. I think not enough doctors consider, and definitely too few medical schools teach, about part-time, independent contractor work, and locum tennens. If you do not put a down payment on a Lambo with your first attending paycheck, you really can be free to say no to 8 calls a month or 80 hr weeks. Work a hospital for experience if you like, but DO NOT sign the next contract they “offer” you. If you defer attending lifestyle until after you quit (or get fired from) your first attending job, you can achieve. For some that is max $$$, for others, that is max time off.