Agency model is the problem. I just went through this with my spouse (again). She is not a developer, but in an advertising agency. Agencies just win accounts,

Agency model is the problem. I just went through this with my spouse (again). She is not a developer, but in an advertising agency. Agencies just win accounts, then hire people like you to do the grunt work, and they cater to every whim of the client, no matter how unreasonable. That's the model -- why lose the client's dollars? They'd rather burn you out and lose you instead if they need to lose someone. They squeeze out as much work per $ out of you as they can, then keep what's left over as profit. It really doesn't matter what type of business -- law firm, ad agency, consultancy, CPA firm -- they all run on this business model, and you'll notice the "associates" (that is, not the partners who bring in the money) are always miserable grunt workers. Much better to get on a "product" side, as in, the company makes money by investing in a product or solution, and it's worth it for them to invest in talent that improves this solution.