Observation: it seems that not being a black hat these days has huge opportunity cost.

Which means being ethical is much more valuable choice.

I believe ethics is based on choice - what we choose to go. Not what we're forced to do.

And if we choose to do good in spite of possible life changing monetary payoff, it's more valuable.

Some people are taking the dark side, but most that could hack and don't do it in an unethical way, even help prevent hacks are 1000x.