Don't go public. Look at major companies like Facebook that have become massive user data and time exploiting machines for the sake of increasing share price. Stay private and recognize what place your product has in the world - many ideas CAN be billion dollar ideas if they pervert their original vision, but many ideas ought to remain much smaller and focused to stay true to themselves, not investors.
And is this article really arguing that Americans are underinvested in the stock market and not grossly overinvested?
Valve is great when things are interesting to work on, but I wouldn't consider them a company that are role models. The downside to Valve is since everyone is their own boss, maintenance becomes something no one does. They need to solve that problem before I'd consider them a good company role model.
Could they pay a higher salary for maintenance to compensate? Like a reverse auction. Then it becomes something that the people who are most desperate for money will do.
And is this article really arguing that Americans are underinvested in the stock market and not grossly overinvested?