Let me tell you one thing.
You need to realize that working hard in this industry is not simply for climbing to the top. It is a matter of survival.
The students with no work experience often ask me why I work so hard and am always busy? They thought I was doing that to get promoted and fulfill my ambition. No. I do that because I lag behind and become useless if I don’t keep up. I have no desire to climb up the corporate ladder. Maintaining status quo requires a lot of effort.
So when you said I will be fine with XXX, most of times that is not an option. If I have an option to work at a less demanding job with less pay, but a guaranteed stability, I will likely switch to that job. Usually, less demanding, lower paying jobs in this industry tend to be unstable. If the H1B requirements change, those less demanding jobs will be out of your reach anyway.
Aim high and work hard. That’s not optional.