I agree with the compensation comment. Accountants should be compensated better. But many people view Big 4 (or any big firm) accounting as a stepping stone to something greater (with better compensation). My main issue is that this forum (and society in general) is littered with people making comments implying that you shouldn't take a job if it means that you'll actually have to work, and that if you do, you're an idiot. @Yehuda didn't "sell his soul to the devil." He made a responsible decision to go work and support his wife and family.
-1. Working hard is a good thing, but I'd still call the decision silly. Who's ever heard of a 2k bonus for being top rated and billing 2000 hours. That's slave labor. And I'm not convinced the exit opportunities are so great from a non big 4.