For context, client spoke for roughly 1.2 hours going over the project and asking very few questions. Any questions asked, were promptly answered. Client was not prepared for the consultation. I actually gave the client much more feedback than just project organization, but how to complete his project to get it to the point that he wished. I went into detail about what blueprints were required and a general overview of the logic required to make it happen.
Client proceeded to offer me a job on the project (strange for someone with this type of review), after asking me quotes for specific systems that needed to get setup (the ones I recommended to him). I was then shocked to find out that he had been recording the entire conversation (almost 3 hours worth). Client also did not understand the significance of drafting up a contract for the work required.
Between the shadiness of the no contracts and the secret recording on this conversation (which in this case is pretty funny, because it would actually contradict all his negative claims) I had to decline working with him. He then proceeded to tell me how great of a job I did in the consultation (what? really?!). But then writes something entirely different (as quoted).
A few other notes: Client knew what the rate was prior to the consultation. It is also in my humble opinion that the client had no idea what a typical game development consultation was. I went deep into the project, going through the various blueprints I had never touched before and giving the client appropriate feedback about the current state of the project. It was almost 3 hours because that last hour was discussion about moving forward with the client’s project (i.e. talking about quotes, contracts, phone recordings, etc).
Not recommending something yet not regretting spending the money of the thing you can’t recommend makes absolutely no sense.