This is only somewhat true, to get hired to a tenure track position you generally have to propose a body of research to the other faculty members during your j

This is only somewhat true, to get hired to a tenure track position you generally have to propose a body of research to the other faculty members during your job talk, so it has to be research they find compelling AND that they think will pull down grant money, so . . . generally not absolute freedom there. Also when you work as an academic you are underpaid and working the equivalent of three jobs, 1) research and begging for grant money, 2) teaching, 3) bureaucratic nonsense, committees, student advising, etc. So I think 42% to do your research is a very generous estimate. I left academia after my PhD and wish I would've left sooner. It's a house of cards built on the illusion "prestige" and indentured servant wages.