I agree in general, but I think it depends on the kind of work you're doing.
Right now I'm doing some actual consulting (in contrast to contract work), and being available by the hour has been helpful. I turn up at a couple of regular meetings; when some issue comes up that I can help with, I help.
On a day rate, the expense is large enough that people only want to call you in when there's something they perceive as big and serious. But when it's just time worked, they're happy to grab you for a short chat. Which often turns into something larger. And it makes it easy to leave the contract open; I've been doing this with one client for circa 6 months. That has let me influence them a lot more than a short burst of days would have done.
Right now I'm doing some actual consulting (in contrast to contract work), and being available by the hour has been helpful. I turn up at a couple of regular meetings; when some issue comes up that I can help with, I help.
On a day rate, the expense is large enough that people only want to call you in when there's something they perceive as big and serious. But when it's just time worked, they're happy to grab you for a short chat. Which often turns into something larger. And it makes it easy to leave the contract open; I've been doing this with one client for circa 6 months. That has let me influence them a lot more than a short burst of days would have done.