Former H1B person: yes, the lock-in is silly/awful/counterproductive etc. In fact, one of the reasons I went back to Berlin.
However, only one of the reasons. I did not necessarily want to stay forever, just like I didn't want to stay forever in London (no restrictions for an EU citizen).
Also, I just don't see the wage-depression, at least not in any of the cases I am aware of (and there were quite a few at the companies I was working for in the Bay Area). I remember one smarty-pants ranting about H1B wage-depression after an otherwise fun EE380 session. I challenged him to guess my salary. He was off by a factor of three.
However, only one of the reasons. I did not necessarily want to stay forever, just like I didn't want to stay forever in London (no restrictions for an EU citizen).
Also, I just don't see the wage-depression, at least not in any of the cases I am aware of (and there were quite a few at the companies I was working for in the Bay Area). I remember one smarty-pants ranting about H1B wage-depression after an otherwise fun EE380 session. I challenged him to guess my salary. He was off by a factor of three.