Every single reason given for why the pay is what it is is just a veneer for the reality that the buyer and seller couldn’t (or think they couldn’t) get a better deal elsewhere.
For a buyer, that means a lower price. For the seller, that means a higher price.
This is the ground truth of how life works. Like gravity.
I keep repeating this on HN whenever a comp conversations come up. Unless lotsofpulp's comment resonates deeply with your bone marrow level intuition of what gets you paid, you're totally missing the point (and making bad choices.)
If you're going to say that, then you ought to accept that labeling the employer action creepy and disturbing is a great 'trick'.
If we can remove location-based pay as a negotiation tactic, merely by creating social disapproval because its 'invasive', and the like then that's wonderful for us as as employees.
Why shouldn't we work together to hobble employers at the negotiation table? They have enough power as it is.
The same way employee should use whatever 'tricks' at their disposal to get a higher pay.