The "opportunities" are a gamble. You can work 50 - 60 hours a week for 10 years and suddenly lose your job because of a merger, relocation or a new management team that wants to clean house. In the Federal government Civil Service eliminates all worries except things like base closings.
I know from my days in the Air Force that Civil Service also protects underachievers.
That's what business is, a gamble. Business is risk, but the rewards for success are enormous. If someone isn't ready to play that game, they've got no business being in business.
Concerning job security, I went through 5 or 6 fullscale RIFs, or Reductions in Force. Only 1 of those RIFs was conducted in accordance with law.
So much for security.