B. Excellent pay for new bachelor’s degree grads.
C. A career dead-end.
With A and B, who cares about C? I don't buy the early exit theory.
Plus, software engineering is always best as augmentation to something else.
Such as an accountant that can build reports and extracts is way better than one who has to write a specification to be developed after long meetings.
Getting personal. I'm that guy above, I'm 60. I have more offers for jobs and projects than ever before.
My son in law, with art training, not even a degree; is in high demand in California. However, he is relied on to go into the server room and troubleshoot issues; as well as render a tour through a virtual refinery.
If he wants, he can do this indefinitely.
Like you say, more projects, more contacts from would-be employers, than EVER.
I'm 63, and I'm also going strong in software. I design and program embedded microcontrollers in special purpose instrumentation. I do the electronics design, printed circuit layout, and the software for those devices. The prototype devices are generally made in my basement machine shop. I then write the documentation and take the photographs for inclusion in those manuscripts.
There are few people these days who know software right down to the register level and know how to interface with custom hardware. I find that I am in more demand as time passes.
I don't do Java or web stuff. I leave that to the kids who don't know an ADC from a toad stool.
Yep, us old farts are pretty well positioned to stay as long as we want.