For the most part I've worked for relatively small companies where management was fairly accessible. In that context, if I made a case that management didn't agree with, there would be no point in me creating a struggle -- I'd have to either accept the reality or leave. It's admittedly different if you're in a FAANG and you have to create negative press to get the CEO to pay attention, but IMO it usually ends up with a lot of effort to get management to take a step back on a single issue, and at that point your career prospects at that place are toast and your favors are used up.
To be clear, I admire whistleblowers who call out true ethical breaches. I just think fighting with management on things like salary transparency which aren't urgent issues is a waste of time. If they're not paying you what you think you're worth go find a better gig.
For minor infractions, it's probably not worth becoming an activist. For instance, if I'm not being paid proportional to the market or my boss is creating a difficult culture, it's probably just time to pack up and leave. I might not even bother offering any real feedback on the way out.
For more major ones, an example from the article was preventing an employee from talking about wages, I'm going to continue doing exactly that AND look for my out. I'm also going to talk to my fellow employees about their legal rights and how this isn't right. Bonus, if I'm fired before I can find a job, I'm probably going to talk to a lawyer at bare minimum
Anything above that, I would argue you've drifted into becoming part of the problem. And the fact that you've "never seen this kind of thing work out positively for the person that does it" is part of that system that perpetuates the kind of toxic workplace you've seen. It sucks, but you've been called to fight against a giant and hopefully the worst that happens to you is you get fired. Best case, perhaps the rarest, you're part of the resistance that brings down something truly toxic
Because I actively look to join companies that share my values and leave when things get even slightly dicey, I've not had to go beyond minor infractions. But if I'm ever faced with something truly bad, I hope that I have the courage to stand even when others do not.
Edit: It also helps if you work for small companies and know the whole stack of management above you
For larger companies, knowing a few levels above you and whether or not they'd stand for shenanigans is useful too. Ideally your manager will be frank about the state of things and willing to fall on the sword for important issues
Finally, if you're a manager, you're an extension of the company and any toxic things they inflict on people below you in the hierarchy. "Minor infractions" should be fought, and you're complicit if anything worse happens. You should be willing to be fired rather than enforce anything unethical on your employees. Otherwise you simply shouldn't be a manager.