I'd like to add that engineers/developers can hardly do the jump to being independent in the described situation, but there many lower paying jobs where this is

I'd like to add that engineers/developers can hardly do the jump to being independent in the described situation, but there many lower paying jobs where this is being done, too. Also, I am compeletely amazed by how idiotically this is handled by management with respect to software development, where the code can have negative net worth without the guy who developed it, and knows its ins and outs. And people put on contract work will eventually leave these untenable situations, especially if they are competent. Call be bitter, but I am quite disheartened when I see how much opportunity and talend is squandered for some temporary short-term gain, like "reducing" fixed costs by outsourcing.