Having gone this route - 8 years software engineer enterprise software - 8 years management enterprise software - downturn - back to software engineer mobile - now back to running an engineering team, there are trade offs.
First, what I realized going back to writing code in my early 40s, after 8 years in management, is how rewarding each day was when I was coding. You could get to the end of the day, point at what you did, and realize that you actually accomplished something.
In management, I have rarely felt like that. There is nothing to point to. It's all soft and mushy. Has anyone yelled at you today? Did any of your team get pissed at you? No? Ok, maybe you had a good day.
It's not all about the money or the 'career path'. Sometimes it's about contentment every day.
But Android users never update there OS and there is a lot of old Android OS versions to support, correct? Additionally, the device manufacturers control the OS distribution and what's included.
I think big single companies work when you are creating a new market and innovating with new technology. As a market and technology matures, the network takes over.
