I am aware of this, I consulted full-time for 4 or 5 years and it all but paid for my first house. I was merely responding to the very prevalent - and likely incorrect in most cases - sentiment that being "stuck at work" for 30-50% of your time is what's actually preventing you from getting stuff done.
We must be living in very different universes, because in my country full-time consulting pays off a house in maybe 20 years. Most people never get a second one.
