The employee retention argument is a misleading one. It only matters if you make it past earlier and much higher hurdles, like creating something novel that users like, and getting funded.
Someone who wants to start a startup and avoids SV because it will be harder to retain employees is like someone who wants to become a movie star and avoids LA because the higher crime rate means he'll have to worry about people breaking into his mansion after he succeeds.
Someone who wants to start a startup and avoids SV because it will be harder to retain employees is like someone who wants to become a movie star and avoids LA because the higher crime rate means he'll have to worry about people breaking into his mansion after he succeeds.