As I mature as a developer and my capabilities expand, I find myself with more and more ideas I'd like to see through. Thinking about my future career, my greatest desire - more than salary or benefits considerations - is autonomy and the freedom to pursue a development life outside my employer.

I know support for side projects is rare, and that even Google has pulled it's 20% support policy, but does anyone here have examples of an employer that encourages and rewards employee projects? Even in small ways? Or is freelancing the only answer?