I agree with all of this and I think there is a third category of job where is software is neither the main business, nor IT. Once you have developed the neces

I agree with all of this and I think there is a third category of job where is software is neither the main business, nor IT. Once you have developed the necessary software skills in a "software house", in my experience, the best thing to so is to get stuck into a particular domain, where the company needs software developed (not IT), but is not the main business. These jobs and contracts attract the best $, but also in my experience, highest job satisfaction - you are not just a cog - well, less so, IMO.