I like people, but not particularly stressed out adults at the office. I work half a day from home on engineering projects and the rest of the day I tutor kids at a high school which allows me to have some human interaction in my day. It's been a good balance for me.
At social gatherings, when people are talking about what they do for a living or what they spend their energy on, I like to ask them: "What is your drive?" or "what drives you to do that?"
I agree. I don't think we're mature enough at a young age for that kind of commitment which often times ends in catastrophic drama and can put a toll on your education/career/finances.
My former employer offered us 4 x 10h which reduces the commute to work, vehicle wear and tear, mileage and offers 3 day weekends. On the other hand, the 10h days can put a toll on your health when sitting at a desk for that long.
4 x 8h is a good idea as long as you can maintain the level of productivity. Given the competitiveness of the marketplace 4 x 8h might not work unless you have extra employees to fill in the 20% void.
Another factor to consider is your location. If you're getting paid 80% of the full time income and you live in an expensive city, you might find it difficult to adjust your lifestyle. Usually when you're not working (earning), you're spending.