Why am I still in academia?

[alpinerabbit]

I decided beforehand to head for industry right away after my ph.d.

because lingering on in "the midfield", the limbo between grad school and tenure, makes it ever more difficult to get that foot inside the door of industry. It was difficult enough to find the job I really wanted (I have the entry-level position now, after 2 other jobs and 4-5 years); true, it is no more secure. My whole group got axed right after I resigned (*phew*) from my last job. You have to always have a sideways option.

I've seen people with 1,2,3 post docs, even with assistant professorships, nature papers and all ending up in a dead end. I did not want to go there.