I was resolved for years not to follow in my parents' footsteps and become a professor, for many of the reasons you mention. But now I've been mostly loving it for 20ish years.
However-- I take it you are in the sciences. I'm in the humanities, where I feel like we have a lot more leeway. And, I'm at a Canadian university. I hear horror stories from colleagues in the USA and elsewhere.
If this is really not right for you, I hope you can find your way out, maybe into private enterprise?

I remember academics complaining about this at least 25 years ago when funding streams became more commercially focused. As in every walk of life, there were idle people within this world who drifted along on past glories, so the idea of publishing frequently to show that you were on top of the latest thinking was formed. It took away the idea of indeterminate tenure in posts and the whole academic world was turned into even more of a shark pool.

I am glad I wasn't tempted into it apart from being a consumer.

I've dated/ was in a relationship with women on both the sides of this argument. I understand the pressures and commitments you're talking about.

When I was doing research at a University, I was under pressure to publish with some one I had never met as the first name. I refused, so instead of getting 60 credits towards my MA , I was only awarded 30..

I feel exhausted reading this.

It's a societal problem. And has a lot to do with capitalism.

Capitalism is about profits, yet with the advent of this administration, it only has gotten far worse.

Publish or perish... It doesn't sound like fun...

demanding life as a macadamian