Sounds like you've got the kind of outstanding IT guy that was motivated to make the electronics run like the scientists wanted more so than anything. At the o

Sounds like you've got the kind of outstanding IT guy that was motivated to make the electronics run like the scientists wanted more so than anything. At the other end of the spectrum there's labs [0] where the scientists need to carefully study and develop increasing skills at operating the electronics the way IT wants it done, and even worse of a distraction when there's a moving target keeping up with the IT electronics approach changing faster than the progress most labs make in their own scientific field. What labs need more of is your kind of IT operator who can bring that option (your extreme end of the spectrum in favor of lab workers) within reach for when it is the most appropriate choice. When labs fail to retain such adequate talent, they can rule out that option going forward, and that's one less tool in the toolbox. [0] Including many which have good records of breakthrough progress before becoming computerized to begin with.