>>Unlike Mike Beane mentioned, there doesn't seem to be a "slacking off" in the popularity of the game -- in fact, it's still growing at a very strong rate. Most casinos, even the small Native American ones, now have some kind of live poker (WinStar in southern Oklahoma just opened a brand new, smoke free 40 table room that'll probably host a big tourney soon); also, the new PokerPro electronic live poker system is starting to be installed at some of the horse racing tracks nationwide that allow slots (tracks in Delaware and Arkansas have them).
>>
>>And yes, I play tournament poker -- regularly. And I finish in the money -- not as regularly, but enough. If all goes according to plan, I'll play in the WSOP next year.
>
>Then bye-bye IT and hello professional poker tour? :)

Not a chance. I like what I do too much. I'd just enjoy the freedom of being able to do it *when* I wanted to and *where* I wanted to.

And, of course, I'd have to do it on the first 16-core laptop ever produced (bg)...