Being Independent and working for an Agency are two different beasts. I think it is too early for me to be able to judge which one is better, they each have their upsides and downfalls. When working for an agency, as you said, you don't get to pick who you see, you just have to pray that your boss likes you that day and doesn't send you an asshole. On the other hand an agency opens up it's huge door of already established clientele. Then if your boss does like you they tend to send more business your way. While when you are Indy you are in a whole pool of girls and you have to make yourself stand out, which basically comes down to whether or not you have that little bit of extra something in you, whatever it may be.