HN probably disproportionately attracts people who are well-off enough that they can afford to be choosy about work. There also might be some bias because working just for the money is the default and working for things other than the money is the exception, so people in the latter category are more likely to write about it than people in the former category. Also, some people who claim to be working for more than just the money might just be saying what they want to be true rather than what is true. It's not that they're consciously lying, cause there would be little reason to do that on HN, it's more that to believe that they are working for more than the money makes them feel good. Also, admitting that you're working just for the money is taboo in a large subset of corporate culture and, while there is not much reason to avoid violating the taboo on HN, the taboo may nonetheless spill over into outside-of-work thinking.
I'm currently working for the money[1]. I still couldn't tell you if it's crushing or liberating. Given the Pandemic, all options are on the table. I know I've invested about 800 hours in a passion project in the last year, which may turn into 2 or hopefully not 3 this year. I don't know if that would have happened if I loved my job, pandemic or no pandemic.
I think the working for more than money thing goes back to the 'do what you love for a living' advice that many of us think is actually pretty bad. Or at least a good way to get exploited, and ultimately burnt out.
1. I have relatives whose lives fall apart if they aren't working. One ended up working through retirement despite not needing the money. I appear to be somewhat similar. So I say I'm working 'for the money' but it's also to keep the wheels from falling off.
