We tried Free flight in the pacific ocean and it was a mess with only 700 flights a day in the whole Ocean. Everyone wants to be either in the Jet eastbound or as far from the jet westbound. Everyone has access to the same weather, wind information, and flight planning software and file conflicting routes. The answer was the PACOTS. An orginized track system that changes daily based on winds. NASA tried a free flight demo using the lower 48 states, it was a real joke. Of course the NASA guys whose contract paychecks depended on the program continuing, kept saying how promising it was. There will be a transcon orginized track system before we have a free for all. With TCAS and ADS B, weather deviation issues are not as compelling as they were 20 years ago. As per the controller shortages, I leave Dec. 1. I am tired of the shift work, overtime and mismanagement. For people interested in ATC, it has been a very rewarding profession. Unfortunitly the screening, hiring process is a real joke in the US. Add to that the recent pay reductions and it does not look as good as it did.