I formatted the shit out of that sentence to indicate just that.
It's hard to have a career when there's no money.
You go home and live like a 20th century billionaire no matter if you go back to work or not.
I suppose because of the service contract that if you don't go back to work at Starfleet without a good explanation, then they put you in the stockade for 20 years.
What sort of idiot would put up with that?
In the military today, they pay you.
Your family has it's mortgage paid off and they get to continue eating as long as you don't panic and run off.
It's no Carrot, all stick in the future.