Re: Career move...
Consultants who don't have industry experience hardly qualify as consultants. Industry experience would definitely help. If you ever decide to switch back to consultancy then you would definitely see the endusers and their requirements differently.
Having being on both sides of the fence, I feel it really depends on your personality which dictates the kind of career that is good for you. If you are the kind of a person who likes things on the move, different challenges, fast pace then consultancy would be a better career option, On the other hand, other than the initial learning curve, industry is more like predictable work. They will hand you three babies (modules) to raise.. so get ready to be a daddy (not a bad move though).