Read it however you like. I intend to give a realistic opinion based on my own experience and that of other freelancers I know. I've read or heard starry-eyed dreams of "just writing code the way I want to do it" as if that would somehow generate an income. Writing whatever code you want in your own way defines a hobbyist. Developing an idea into a product defines an entrepreneur. Coding what someone else wants for money defines a freelancer.

I don't know what the OP imagines or wants. "Independent software developer" can describe any of the definitions I gave above. It can also describe "unemployed grinding out niche open source project." As a freelancer I have considerable independence, compared to employees, but I don't get to set all of the parameters because I have to deliver something my customers will pay for, on a schedule they agree to. The more history and trust I have with my customer the more input I have into the overall process and parameters.