[AmericanChopper]

> the transition from independent consulting to long term employment is just as questionable as the one from job-hopping to long term employment

This is very easy to explain. Contracting is inherently a less stable way to make a living, and many contractors return to normal employment when they decide that they want the extra stability back. Perhaps they just want to reduce the stress, or maybe their home-life changed for some reason…

[em-bee]

oh right, that's a good point. getting older, having a family and wanting to settle down is a good explanation for wanting a stable job after years of work on short term projects.