Understand where you're coming from, but I feel I know market value for my work and I'm not really willing to accept anything less. I'm in a good spot now, so if the position goes away - I'm fine. It's just an interesting opportunity to diversify my experience if the terms make sense for both sides.
The best jobs come up when you are in a good position. Your positive state of mind projects success and attracts suitors.
I'm in a different position than you so maybe my perspective doesn't apply. We have a board of directors and a compensation committee. A salary survey of comps and cash bonus reveals ridiculous salaries so the CEO and I agreed that a pitch of P75 salaries would not raise the ire of the BoD and investors. TBT -- it's still a lot of money. I'm not a huge spender and we have no debts of any kind so I like to pitch 90% of that P75 comp and just say, "I'd rather take the rest in options". You don't do new tech start ups for the salary --- rather you should be doing it for the significant upside of success.
Nothing makes boards and investors happier than when mgmt's comp is tied to shareholder success. If you can relent a bit on base salary the upside could be massive. You do that and they will gladly pay a shitload more in the end --- if you can deliver.
The problem with pushing negotiations all of the time is that it's fine if you are in one shot 'fuck you very much' transactions. it's a lot tougher if you have to work with the people for a few more years.
When my first company was acquired I learned a very important lesson from a negotiation expert. It was the concept of 'best agreements'. This guy had been in the energy business for a long time and was working a 10 yr equipment and service deal worth almost $1b. He was working for one of the up and coming superstar kids that this large company loved to promote into senior roles (often too early).
One Friday night the young manager steps into the office of the guy working the big energy deal and says, "So -- are we winning?".
To which the older negotiation expert says, "Are you married?".
Young manager, "Yes, why do you ask".
Older guys responds, "are you winning?".
Younger manager doesn't say anything and goes home for the weekend.