In many cases, freelance jobs meet your definition of a contractor. I suppose that is the problem with this whole argument, as these definitions are somewhat s

In many cases, freelance jobs meet your definition of a contractor. I suppose that is the problem with this whole argument, as these definitions are somewhat subjective, and the lines between them are crossed all the time depending on how desperate for work the consultant/freelancer/contractor is. That's why I prefaced my comment with "in my view". The only real consensus is that consultants are at the top of this particular food chain.