Possibly, but you're equating "contractor" == "employee" when in reality you have more options. 1. No one said you _had_ to do that job for that client. You do

Possibly, but you're equating "contractor" == "employee" when in reality you have more options. 1. No one said you _had_ to do that job for that client. You don't have that flexibility as an employee. 2. Don't feel like putting up with all the bullshit? Keep raising your rates until a) it's worth your while (I personally can put up with a lot of BS for $400/hour) or b) until they decide you're too expensive and let you go. This is not an option when dealing with your employer. 3. Having downtime as a consultant in between clients is seen as normal. Between employers, it can be a death knell. Knowing, and willingly to execute, these options gives you a completely different perspective than being an employee. Which means you handle the situtations differently (better?).