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Originally Posted by hacker
If writing software for the purpose of selling it only results in a 1% return on investment, then what is the point? Its probably better to turn to becoming a plumber or some other manual labor vocation with a better turnaround.
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People should do what makes them happy. There are plenty of happy plumbers, electricians and car mechanics who happen to be involved in those growth industries. For the money, those are probably going to be jobs that can't be outsourced and will be needed over the next few hundred years (along with doctors and lawyers.) People are always going to need their pipes fixed, their electricity wired, their cars fixed, their boo-boo's bandaged and their disagreements moderated.
As an artist, there are times when my talents are in demand and other times when I wish I had a more in demand profession (not to mention how many GF's I've been through who are uncomfortable with my freelance lifestyle.) On the other hand, when I am working I have the best part-time job available (to me.)
I can't speak from the software developer's perspective, but there do seem to be some challenges to the profession. Outsourcing and lack of demand (or a saturation in developers) would seem to force the remaining developers to identify and concentrate their efforts on their target markets and make better products than their competitors. It's easier said than done, I know, and there's a certain amount of luck in the success of most endeavors, but like the short chick in the "Incredibles" said, "Luck favors the prepared."
POL9A