I used to be #1. I turned into #2.
And let me tell you on a personal level, I am a LOT more happy being #2 than #1. Why? Because I am doing what I want to do when I want to do.
Not only that, but I place a higher "bar" on the women I'd want to go out with. Basically, my free time is precious and I'd rather spend that free time with a range of higher quality women than going out on a bunch of first dates and flings with anyone that has female anatomical parts.
Thus, there is no real answer to who is the real prize, because the real piece of information missing is: Who is happier in their current position?
Just because I'm happier being #2 than #1, doesn't mean that is the case for everyone else.
But I did notice that since being #2, I've eliminated a LOT of the riff raff I used to see myself "dating" in the past. Then again, I don't overwork myself that much, I find a nice balance for myself.
This is me as well though my time as a number 1 was very short lived.
The mistake in the OP's ananlgoy is assuming that the number 2 guy doesn't like having fun and is not a well rounded guy, simpoly because he has goals that he wants to accompli8sh and knows some things have to be done to get those thigns accomplished.
It's not like the guy, doesn't like having fun or doesn't like doing things, and I"m sure he finds time to unwind in his own way, but he isn't a "okay it's 5pm, it's MY TIME now" type of guy most guys are.
Not only that, it's what your definition of fun is.
When you are 40 years old, do you want to go to the horse track and bet a couple of hundred bucks on a horse and maybe win or do you want want to go to the race track when you are 40, with a group of friends and family, taking a picture in a winners cirlce after you just won a grade 1 race. There is nothing wrong with either. My dad was the first guy and I love my dad. I'm the second guy.
There was this chick I kinda was feeling before I went into hermit mode that wasn't my oneitis. and when we started taking our company seriously she would complain about how we weren't "fun" enough while she would go on dates to places like ihop and el chico eating 6.95 "mexican" dinner specials and all you can drink margaritas. Some people can't or don't want to see beyond that. She's probably doing the exact same thing 10 years later. Looking forward to a guy that will 'spring' for red lobster.
3 weeks ago or so, I took my wife to gordon ramsey's on san vacintnie. We eat somewhere "really nice" about once a month.
I'ts not that I didn't like going out. I just want more more to life then cheap margaritas and red lobster (though I do like red lobster)
Frankly i could never be the number 1 guy because the things I think that are fun, cost too much money to do. We go on about 1 vacation a month. My wife and I go out to do something 2-3 nights a week. 10 years ago I was stuck in my room programming until 3-4 in the morning, 6-7 days a week.
There is absolutely nothing different between that person then and this person now. I liked going out then, just as much as i liked going out and being social now. I just knew that it wasn't the time for that.
I don't get trying g to make one better than the other. That IMHO reeks of an inscure person. Whenever someone sees someone that is working towards something or has some money someone wills ay "well he must not be very happy beucdase he works too much, he doesn't live a balanced life". It's like that person is trying to turn being a regular person into a moral thing or something. Not that it's immoral, but this isn't a morality issue.
As far as being a catch,I am probably more of a catch than I was when I was younger, but I am also more well rounded. If I was just a fat slob who didn't know **** about women, a guy with no game and a happy outlook life could probably plow any woman i had.