> Is it really that hard to manage your own health insurance plan and deduct taxes?
No, but it's hard (for many) to actually find work then negotiate a price. And for certain types of problems that people want to work on, there won't be many non-employe openings. Dealing with large bodies of sensitive data, for example, would be one I'd think it'd be harder to find consultant positions - not impossible, but more difficult.
I've been working as a consultant for a number of years and I think the biggest difference is the inconsistent salary. As I recall there was a recent poll someone posted on HN and that was the main reason people don't go into consulting. Consulting also suits a certain type of person because it's a hustling game. You can always make more, but that means there's no light to flip off at 5pm.
no, it's not that hard. what's hard is dealing with inconsistent income flow, lack of stability, and, most relevant to me, the psychological block against taking vacation or personal time when doing so has a real and immediate cost to my paycheck.
I'd rather make a little less at a job that has vacation benefits, than make a little more at a job where every day off comes out of my salary- because I recognize that I'm a human with certain hangups, and this is the way I can best optimize quality of life.
Seriously, FTE is considered "the" way to fo by far too many people. Is it really that hard to manage your own health insurance plan and deduct taxes?