Think about it like this: those salaries are what it takes to recruit people like you into the worlds most expensive real estate market, in a high tax state. Like you say, it's often a wash after those factors.
The salary is roughly a wash and then the RSU's and bonus are serious bank. I've saved more in 2.5 years in the Valley than in 33 years outside it, and my bank considered me good at saving and ahead of the game before I left for SV.
