Because you're really never free to use what you want, being an independent consultant doesn't change things much. If there's an established software set, they want you to use it. In fact, they often want you to buy your own copy, and look askance at whatever you may suggest. This is a political matter, and if I can stay out of the discussion by writing a check, I do it. There are exceptions, however. I haven't bought BEagle, and I warn people against it. If they insist on using it, because it's their "standard," then I tell them that schematics will take, typically 10x as long as I normally estimate, and that PCB symbols may or may not be correct. Many of the BEagle versions of the IPC footprints are "off" in the sense that they put too much pad under the device and not enough outside.

Because I have to have so many of 'em, I hate 'em all! I suppose if I were forced to use one or another, day in and day out, I'd eventually learn to live with the quirks and foibles, but, having to use ABC on Monday, and XYZ on Wednesday, I just have to fight 'em all the time.

RE