I don't think it's lack of empathy. Most clients aren't looking to screw you in advance; they just want the work done, but don't always have the money in time t

I don't think it's lack of empathy. Most clients aren't looking to screw you in advance; they just want the work done, but don't always have the money in time to pay for it (true, sometimes as a result of their own failings). Without a contract, either party is free to prey on the other: the client can try to guilt the worker into working longer before they get paid, but the worker can also try to ask the client for money up front (yes, that's a thing). That's why a contract is so important: it describes what happens when a client pays late, and presumably sets terms to either make it worthwhile for the worker, or gives the worker an easy way out of the contract.