These payroll numbers include 50-100% overhead (typical rule of thumb) since they need to pay taxes and healthcare. I don't think it is exactly my business how much they are personally paid by their co-op. not to sound too "bootstraps", but they earned it with minimal labor exploitation*.

A trip to a speaking event is going to be $3k minimum for travel/food/lodging for two people for a one day in and out, and probably $800/day along the way. I figure they are spending at least 30 days on the road this year.

I don't think it would be wise to circumvent taxes as that offers red meat to the feds to throw you in jail immediately.

I do agree that it's necessary to have paid leadership, I hope Piker is aware of this and doing his part, but he doesn't have any accountability to me anyway besides parasociality I guess. This is also why I'm more interested in discussing how his platform can be used for better or worse for on the ground activities, rather than whatever he is actually doing.