The difference is if you can get enough distance between your expenses and your income, you can completely escape the rat race in a significantly earlier timeframe.
For many outside of the ultra high cost of living zones, 200k is about that cut off level where you can reach escape velocity.
I should have clarified that I am not passing judgment on being a workaholic or not. I spent the majority of my working career as a workaholic, although I did try to escape it on a few occasions. The first and only time it worked was when I made it a non-negotiable part of my work to carve out certain lifestyle demands. At the time, it seemed quite likely that this could trigger some negative consequences, and as someone who worked hard on building a career, it wasn't an easy decision to consciously take a few steps back. I only pulled through because of the conviction that it had to happen.
In an alternate universe, I would have stayed a workaholic and would likely retire earlier than I will now. Both are good options IMO. The choices I made have to do with how I want to spend my free time - my favorite hobby requires top physical fitness, and I won't be able to pursue it semi-competitively for many more years.
For many outside of the ultra high cost of living zones, 200k is about that cut off level where you can reach escape velocity.