To me it sounded like the author had truly believed that advice at the startup stage but now in a large company he saw how those words rang hollow as the employees were no longer benefiting from the companies growth. He seemed embarrassed that his words were being used to justify adding 45 ×70 minutes of commute time to a team that wasn't getting early employee equity
A) Repeating what Steve told him and Steve had changed his mind about that advice?
B) Repeating what Steve told him but in the wrong context?