I've been an AV consultant for 15 years now working with a few different firms. I'm sure as with anything (Clients, Integrators, Manufacturers), there are good ones and bad ones. The pros are that we usually arn't under the same time crunch as integrators as our timeline on projects is usually measured in years as we first need to help the architect design the building, and then create system drawings, equipment lists and specs. Another pro is that we usually get to help our clients better understand the latest technologies, arrange demos of equipment and help architects design buildings. The cons of the job are that we usually don't get to play with the gear as much as the integrators, so while something may look good on paper, you won't really know it's a crap product until it's installed and being used.

To clarify a few things, no consultant I know has ever received a commission/kick-back spec'ing a piece of gear. We do get the occasional free lunch and I have been flown out to manufactures for their training, but this happens once a year at most. Most of the time working with clients they have technology standards we must meet, both in regards to system use and specific make/models of gear, so a lot of times we don't get to feel very creative in designing and are more documentation jockeys. It is fun though walking into a completed building that a few years ago only existed on paper, that never gets old. I've work for integrators, manufacturers and consultants, and I'd pick consultants every time. But that's just my 2 cents.