I'm making decent coin right now, doing custom training for an MS Gold Partner on Microsoft's BI tools. MS has done quite a bit with Analysis Services and Reporting Services for 2008 - that, coupled with the really cool stuff in PerformancePoint Server, means that I'm likely to be at the front of a training room for much of the next few years. Equally interesting stuff, and a little easier to see than a vague prediction that things are going to "completely change" in the next five years.

That's fine, and of great credit to you. Obviously you enjoy the bits-and-braces of MS IT and have found a way to convert that to $ without necessarily needing to understand any other business. Bravo! But that's not (and you would not want it to be) an avenue to be taken by everybody else.

As you've got your path laid out, I agree there's probably not much point your looking at the sites I suggested unless you're particularly interested in Home automation. ;-) But it may be of *great* interest for others. To this I'll add that there is big $ to be made on Elk M1g systems whose programming is a cinch for any of us, or integrating whole home audio systems and HVAC systems and lighting systems, ditto... and this is definitely a growth area. Unlike the corporate IT arena that MS says is saturated.

I guess I'm saying that "things will change" and there's huge opportunity for those who bob their heads up from the drudge to which we are so often directed. Programming is no longer a PC issue; it's a device issue, a personal issue, an automation issue... most of which is pretty easy for people like us. FWIW I saved tens of thousands of $ by overseeing my own smarthouse system. Anybody here could have done it- the complexity of automation programming would make you laugh! The opportunity is that the current installers are used to dumb systems and apparently are struggling with the extra complexity, creating a niche for people like us. Businesses started today to harness this change will be the big ones in 5 years. Heck, in 5 years maybe even you will pause occasionally at the front of your classroom to wonder about things that might have been. ;-)