One factor you left out of your equation is age.

As the oldest person on this bbs, I would have different priorities than a youngster (?) like yourself.

At my age, if I chose "b" and it went badly, chances of my ever finding decent employment again would be practically nil.

I have only had one job in my life that I really hated, and I swore a holy vow that I would live in a cardboard box and eat macaroni and cheese before I did that again, and I still hold to that premise. If your current job falls into that category, then choice "b" is your only viable alternative.

Since I can see the end of my productive working life on the not too distant horizon, if I were in your situation my only viable choice would b "a".

tanstaafl.