It is probably roughly analogous (I do consulting but not specifically coding), but much of my "down time" truly is "letting the ideas percolate" because proper

It is probably roughly analogous (I do consulting but not specifically coding), but much of my "down time" truly is "letting the ideas percolate" because properly thinking through what you're planning to do slowly and methodically saves you so much time and frustration in the end. Of course then there are days when I just don't feel like it. I get paid hourly so I don't feel bad about it. I also get paid over twice what is technically the hourly rate of a normal employee. This leads me to think that companies expect employees to spend half their time doing what I do when I'm not billing them -- letting ideas percolate.