Wow, those are some big pay cuts either way. And even with you half-assing it, you're apparently doing enough to be seen as an asset. Wouldn't being full-time there get you better options for new jobs down the road? I'd bet it'd be much easier to get EA to pay you more if you had already proven yourself as a worthwhile investment to someone else.
I'd probably kick about at higher pay for awhile myself, but a few months ago I moved to a new position at my current job that I like a hell of a lot more than my old one so maybe I'm a tad less sympathetic than I would have been a year ago. Still, starting over from the bottom of the heap when you haven't got to the "look, I made something of myself over here already" card to play strikes me as something that could send you right into career limbo. If you hate it that bad, you better be convinced you're going to love the hell out of the next job.
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"Principally I hate and detest the animal called man, although I heartily love John, Peter, Thomas and so forth" - Jonathan Swift
BT with the victory!