I'm doing it, offer in hand, just need to sign on the offer letter.
I have been at a LRM for a few years, thinking that it will all just "get better." I truly do enjoy teaching the good students, but unfortunately there are just too many students in the bottom of the barrel and they just kill me. The funny thing is that as much as I have grown to dislike the teaching in my school, I am consistently one of the best in the business school(of course, how we define best is suspect, but I am definitely a good teacher).
As far as research is concerned, I'm an LRM (have 1 A- and a few B/C level pubs) and set up well for tenure, but really don't think I have it in me to stomach a couple more years. Many of my colleagues think I'm crazy and say "wait for tenure." But why, what is the point of not being able to be fired if you hate your job. I could just skate by like the deadwoods and enjoy my time basket weaving or consulting, but then I would feel like a leach on society. Economists talk of the toil of labor, but academics should be academics because they thoroughly enjoy the work, not because it is a cake job where you can do as little as possible to receive a good paycheck.
Teaching is so-so, and I am nowhere near the point of conducting research that actually matters or anyone will actually read. We talk of ourselves in our ivory tower as sculpting minds and the academic consciousness, but come on, we spend very little time actually in a classroom teaching students who largely don't care. I estimate I meaningfully impact a maximum 30 students a year, plus all the others that think I am wrecking their lives. (Because it's my fault that they don't study or come to class and fail)
The last thing that has really been pulling on my heartstrings is the entire lack of mental stimulation. Remember when you were a first year phd student sitting in the library or lounge area debating some esoteric concept and laughing about really stupid things? Well, during that time, I thoroughly LOVED my research and learning as much about the subject as I could - my mind was racing and I was giddy with joy. Then I moved to my AP job and I could anticipate every question a student would ask and realized the pointlessness of lm(y~x) in academic research. Then realization sunk in, I am so far from stimulated. To overcome this, I tried moving into new areas of research, but then realized I was still doing pointless research. I also created a couple new courses to force myself to learn some things. Alas, none of this created anywhere near the level of stimulation I need.
So, what is the point of staying? I never really was all that interested in teaching, but your phd advisors always steer you away from industry. Saying things like, "Once you leave, you can never return." So I came to my LRM and gave it the ol' college try, but it is time for me to leave. I am not challenged. I am not stimulated. I am not happy. I am not cut out to be an academic.
There will be an extra opening at my school next year and everyone on this forum will get a job this year. But remember, just because you do or don't get a TT job, it doesn't define you or necessarily make you happy.
Peace Out.