[nmh]

"There are a significant number of programmers who are at a certain stage in life where they will not be able to make the next "transition."

Then perhaps like others, you need to prepare to do something else - like the next version or perhaps simply change fields. Is there some reason that you are above this and others aren't?

"Imagine hearing, "We're sorry, but we will no longer be supporting algebra and English." Not everyone can be a Bill Gates and leap tall buildings in a single bound.""

Personally, I see NO comparison to keeping around an old version of Visual Basic to algebra and English. Surely Visual Basic is not comparable! Oh, stop with the class envy.

[Tax Government]

"There are a significant number of programmers who are at a certain stage in life where they will not be able to make the next "transition."

In the sluice method of gold separation, there are a series of little waterfalls where light-weight stuff gets washed over the edge to the next level. Any person in the programming CRAFT should have a lifelong commitment to never being washed over the edge...without a fight. A person who has no energy to keep evolving is no longer really functional, and should make plans to change jobs before getting washed away.