Re: As far as big Iron goes...
"I'm taking a VB6 class."
Good for you! Any technology backed by MS is a solid bet, imho.
"You guy's (programmers) get paid for this?"
If you really wanna shake your head in astonishment, peek into the world of web development...it's a circus, the cyber-equivilent of the wild west. Even after the bubble burst, lotsa companies still fling money by the fistful at their websites.
"...I will never have to spend two days flat on my back again in the living room from the prior day's spine rupturing labor."
Hey man, carpel tunnel is real. And sitting for hours "on end" (so to speak) can really play havoc with your nether regions. Make sure they shell out for a good chair.