From experience, part time / contractors for early stage startups are usually counterproductive. They just won’t be committed, loyal, and giving 120%, while incurring massive management overhead. Don’t believe I’ve ever seen a success story.

Proper full time employees or don’t hire at all.

Not unless they have the potential to convert to full time. Then it becomes an open ended work trial, which is nice for both sides to build conviction in each other.

100% agree if there is no full time potential.

Yea agree, I do remember having seen founders trying out potential hires/cofounders on a contract basis.