I had similar thoughts. If you are passionate about software development, it doesn't make sense to work as a developer for a big company nowadays. Most of what they do is counter-productive. You mostly learn anti-patterns... I feel that it's not possible to 'grow' as an engineer in a big company; you mostly atrophy. The environment systematically trains you to lose sight of what's important... Not only in terms of software development, but this attitude eventually creeps into your personal life as well.

IMO, to be a great software developer, you need to be laser-focused on the point where the rubber meets the road... It's all about knowing what is important in the most practical sense. But big tech companies train you to focus on everything except that.