Sounds like id isn't exactly the happiest place to be workingI've noticed from my life that programmers and administrators are not the happiest group of people as it is. I'm sure working under a massive deadline and trying to meet the expectations of the gaming public as well as working 14+ hours per day does not make id the most politcally correct happy happy joy joy place to work.
But the trade off is probably well above the average pay and putting "I worked at id" on your resume opens quite a few doors. Those that have left id certainly aren't hurting.
-Sphinx