> My students benefit heavily from me not necessarily treating them to the same standards as I would treat a full time research employee.

Aren't PhD students working long hours already? I really dont see where is the supposed additional slack they are having.

> I will take a chance on a promising student straight out of undergrad who seems like they might be interesting, knowing that it will take them some time to get their feet under them. That would be very different if they were employees.

That is called junior.