Hmmm ... I missed one other point. It's much easier to show your friends and family the mission-oak picture frame you built than some obscure bit of software.

Hmmm ... I missed one other point. It's much easier to show your friends and family the mission-oak picture frame you built than some obscure bit of software. It needs no explanation and you'll be gratified (hopefully) by their response. Explain a low-level library you built to these same people and their eyes will glaze over while they hope you talk about something regular humans deem important.