In cold fronts example above the take home pay was equal (about $2k). but is it really equal?
I really enjoy endo and have pursued specializing in it, therefore, I am extremely biased. I could write a book on all of the reasons why I wanted to pursue endo (aside from actually being very interested in the science and enjoying the procedure) but the bolded above would be in my "top 5" reasons.
my #1 reason, honestly, is staff. I predict myself to have a skeleton crew team. no hygienist= exponentially happier life for me. I also really enjoy endo and if money were equal I would pursue it again. You could argue $ is better as a GP if you have to pay to specialize (opportunity cost, lost income that compounds via investments, more debt, etc). I just wanted to enjoy what I did and be challenged every day.
if you are a philosophical person, yes, absolutely. The art of endodontics is not in doing a root canal, it is diagnosis. Diagnosis can be extremely difficult and interesting. plus technology keeps advancing and keeping you on your toes.