If I'm running all my own services... now I need to Hire people to manage my OSes for the app, as well as systems for databases, key-value stores, backup, mail, load balancing, etc, etc... few people are good at more than one or two of those things, which means I'd have to hire 2-3 people to cover those skills. 2-3 people at even 100k ($30/hr + employer taxes, etc), is quite a bit expensive than AWS services extra costs. Those are people you wouldn't necessarily need if you leveraged those services from AWS.
And when you say, you can just hire people to setup, and run maintenance via contracted services... I've tried hiring a PT postgresql dba, and it was pretty much impossible to do... those services I did reach out to mostly just plain didn't respond, even with a quote.
> as well as systems for databases, key-value stores, backup, mail, load balancing, etc, etc... few people are good at more than one or two of those things, which means I'd have to hire 2-3 people to cover those skills
That just isn't true. If those people were such unicorns, everyone would beg to hire me because I'm worth 2-3 people. :/ I'd be able to get a job anywhere with no trouble.
Given that isn't the case and most people find me unimpressive...yeah. I just think the problem is you, honestly.
And when you say, you can just hire people to setup, and run maintenance via contracted services... I've tried hiring a PT postgresql dba, and it was pretty much impossible to do... those services I did reach out to mostly just plain didn't respond, even with a quote.