If its harder in EVERY WAY, why are you doing it ? There must be some positive points.
There certainly are. It comes down to how you want to pursue your career.
I also get the point you're making with your list, but know that most of those aren't exclusive to 9-5 jobs, or don't hold true in some cases. Two points in particular:
- I wasn't able to cite work from my first year as a full time freelancer in my portfolio. The company I was contracting with at the time didn't allow it. However, I was able to include the side projects I had completed when I was a full time employee.
- Some consulting or freelance gigs have a 100% on-site requirement. A full time job I passed on last year was 100% telecommute.
If its harder in EVERY WAY, why are you doing it ? There must be some positive points.
9-5 could be harder in following ways:
1. Annoying co-workers and/or boss.
2. Office politics
3. No enough pay and/or credit for your work
4. Not able to telecommute
5. Can't build your own portfolio
6. Can't get paid for overtime
7. You could get fired anytime
8. Don't get opportunities to develop entrepreneurial skills
9. You can't choose your projects
10. Don't have to refresh Linked List and DFS every time you go for an interview (for software jobs).