You didn't account for overhead. Your take-home pay from projects like this is around $120,000 - you can do much better elsewhere if you are any good just getting a full time developer job in the midwest. (The Bay or senior level positions pay more)
Sure when you work you make a lot of money, but you end up needing to spend the vast majority of your time looking for the next gig and that is all unpaid.
Sure when you work you make a lot of money, but you end up needing to spend the vast majority of your time looking for the next gig and that is all unpaid.