The Gap

If you had the choice of working with cutting edge technology, with highly experienced like minded professionals and earning R500k pa vs the old way of doing things,working with average professionals and earning R750k pa. What would you choose?

I find that professionals with specialist skills working for a "company" who's core business is not concentrated on their skill, earn way more than the same professionals in a specialized consultancy company getting all the great professional experience.

The problem is that most of them want to be working with like minded professionals, earning real world experience with the latest cutting edge technology. They would move to the "consultancy" but the "company" has put them in "golden handcuffs". They cannot financially afford to take a drop in salary to work for a company that will provide this experience that they lust after. This is the "GAP", how do they fill the gap?

I know many professionals stuck in this situation. Any solutions?