100% agreed. That's why I couldn't believe the upvote fest on the "anti-Product Guys" post a while back. When you do it all, you quickly learn that it's absolutely exhausting work.
More than just the same work 2x, but more like 3x or 4x because of holding it ALL in your head and trying to balance it.
I had the same experiences you did. So, while I'm a good back-end developer, and a great front-end developer, I've chosen to focus on design because A) I'm amazing at it -- it's my best skill, so that is the best use of my energy, B) I don't have the time or energy to do it all any more.
That said, I do still pay attention to the overall shape of the code (and my husband/biz partner pays attention to the design).
Several times, I've been able to wade into a drawn-out discussion between my biz partner and one of our freelancers, & cut thru the crap with a beautifully architected solution. Which always makes me feel warm & fuzzy. And they look at me and go "Oh yeah, you DO know what you're doing," which is worth it just for that. (Because my biz partner has this irritating tendency to tell me "that's impossible" as if he forgot that I damn well know it isn't ;)
Being entirely wrapped up in the code OR the design can be dangerous. ("That's impossible!" - ha.)
I wouldn't trade my ability to do both for anything. I'm glad my husband & I are both "desingineers," at slightly different mix percentages.
More than just the same work 2x, but more like 3x or 4x because of holding it ALL in your head and trying to balance it.
I had the same experiences you did. So, while I'm a good back-end developer, and a great front-end developer, I've chosen to focus on design because A) I'm amazing at it -- it's my best skill, so that is the best use of my energy, B) I don't have the time or energy to do it all any more.
That said, I do still pay attention to the overall shape of the code (and my husband/biz partner pays attention to the design).
Several times, I've been able to wade into a drawn-out discussion between my biz partner and one of our freelancers, & cut thru the crap with a beautifully architected solution. Which always makes me feel warm & fuzzy. And they look at me and go "Oh yeah, you DO know what you're doing," which is worth it just for that. (Because my biz partner has this irritating tendency to tell me "that's impossible" as if he forgot that I damn well know it isn't ;)
Being entirely wrapped up in the code OR the design can be dangerous. ("That's impossible!" - ha.)
I wouldn't trade my ability to do both for anything. I'm glad my husband & I are both "desingineers," at slightly different mix percentages.