[DVassallo]

Taking a job is indeed an alternative. You pay yourself, but you get little control on what you work on (apart from choosing which company to work for). However, you can usually leave easily with a 2 week notice without many downsides.

Getting accepted into YC is quite similar to getting a job. You get paid (less), but you get more control on what you work on. Even though technically you have full control, you don't really do that for moral and ethical reasons. You will want to do things that have a chance of paying off big time, because that's why your investors trusted you with their money. And if you get fed up, it's not as easy to leave. What about your investors? What about your reputation? Will you want to let these people down? Etc.