Yeah, this could never fly for more than 30 minutes with an established corporate client - but I think that's kind of the point. A firm who did let it fly would

Yeah, this could never fly for more than 30 minutes with an established corporate client - but I think that's kind of the point. A firm who did let it fly would be a firm covered in red flags. But it cuts both ways - the big software company in the article could very easily have dismissed the contractor team as wannabes, thanked them for their time and sent them on their way, rather than politely reminding them of the paperwork. I guess it's a game of brinksmanship on both sides.