I can without a doubt say that my dabbling in SITO, from the Panics of '96 to Gridcosm, got me my last job. All that blending and Photoshop pixel-pushing gave me the skills to get fulltime work as a "Digital Imaging Technician". People payed me money to restore/alter their photos. Whether it be old tintypes from the 20's or a single photo saved from a fire my experience with blending (my right hand man the clone tool) got me that job.

See, it's not all mindless frittering. Not yet anyway.