Your question is fair, but I believe a little misguided.
On one hand, VCs like YC need founders to build companies in order to get excess returns for their LPs.
On the other hand, founders still need to take excessive risks to start a company. Then they need to execute against incredible odds.
I say this as someone who left my job in 2014 to start a company. 14 months later it was over and I'd say that I set myself and family back substantially in the process from both a loss of cash to also a slower career path.
I don't regret the decision, but it does take excessive risk to launch.
I'm not exactly certain if your reply addresses my distinction between what is good for the entire body of founders (and the VC's who invest in them) and what is good for each individual founder. To the extent that it does, I think your anecdote illustrates that blind hope didn't offer you any particular benefit.
On one hand, VCs like YC need founders to build companies in order to get excess returns for their LPs.
On the other hand, founders still need to take excessive risks to start a company. Then they need to execute against incredible odds.
I say this as someone who left my job in 2014 to start a company. 14 months later it was over and I'd say that I set myself and family back substantially in the process from both a loss of cash to also a slower career path.
I don't regret the decision, but it does take excessive risk to launch.