For a lot of people healthcare would be a huge expense... I'm actually pretty happy about "Obamacare" even though I don't agree with the methods... I actually have better healthcare out of pocket today, for less money per month than my last job offered. I was surprised, as I'm big, and diabetic so the last time I looked at out of pocket it was a couple thousand a month. That said, I think there could have been better ways to do it, and the number of exceptions was too vast imho.

As for vacation, I'm feeling it... I've spent most of my career doing contract/hourly work, and for several years the only time I really had off was both unpaid and between jobs with half the time spent interviewing. The past three years I've forced myself to take a couple weeks off over the year, and it's a world of difference... Still unpaid, but worth it.

If I come across a company that gives me the freedom as an employee that I've had as a contractor, I'd be happy to be there. I've done far better in positions where I'm able to get work done, instead of minutia and meetings all the time. Where quality of output is worth more than the number of Jira tickets closed. Unfortunately, that hasn't been the majority of my work experience.

Who knows how things will work out in the end... at least it's not like the first .com bust.