I don't know what Basecamp's books look like, I don't have the clairvoyance to know what they will look like in the future..

humor a speculative question for a moment: would the "better deal" have been to give employees the option of how they'd like to receive their fringe benefits versus a one-size-fits-all edict, so that those with less tolerance for the volatility of profit sharing can enjoy a bit of stability with such fringe benefits if profits decline?

Especially after, as another commenter mentioned: the tax implication of cash payout?