Well, I can measure the value I'm creating (at least in the short term) relatively objectively by seeing how much money I make. And I make more money (and just

Well, I can measure the value I'm creating (at least in the short term) relatively objectively by seeing how much money I make. And I make more money (and just generally get a lot more projects done) by managing other programmers. Regarding 'backwater corners' - isn't this article about how to provide value in the backwater corners of the software industry? Printing and generating bingo cards is about as backwater as you can get, but I see nothing wrong with that. I'm also in the food industry and I understand that you don't grow up to be McDonald's (a restaurant which has - from my perspective - provided incredible value all over the world) overnight. Ray Kroc grew McDonald's by serving what was then an expensive burger to a niche clientele. Then he expanded from there. I don't see why a similar strategy isn't sane in the software industry.