> ability to explore different areas. When you are a contractor, you are expected to be top notch at what you do. Often that means you don't get to explore new things (except on your own time, which you should do). It's nice to get paid to learn as an employee.

I've also done both over my career, and I haven't noticed much difference in this regard. I've proposed we try out (and they accepted) a different language or technology that I would need to learn numerous times to long-term clients.