>Remember the promises of last century (boy are we getting long in the tooth), where it was commonly stated that one day there would be no need for programmers? If anything, things are more complex. I am an "all around cowboy." I build pcs and servers, install networks, write apps, web host, etc. (basically a prostitute). Having said that, on every front there is new stuff to keep up with. NT er Win2K has so many iterations of "servers" that it's very hard to keep up with, then there's the constantly evolving hardware and our very own VFP, etc. etc. ad nauseum.
Had a client tell me he would soon program his own package just by telling the computer what he wanted. I pointed out that somebody had to tell the computer how to respond to his commands or it would just sit there. He still didn't get it! Ah, well. He still can't use word.
I'd gotten away from the hardware stuff and now find myself getting back into it. Aside from crawling through some really dusty spaces, networking is a whole lot more fun than it used to be.