as many tasks to lesser paid knowledge folks, power users etc and move on. This is what managements mantra is and I agree with it, However how many sysadmins here can trace a circuit board and make needed repairs. There are some but most of the new techs cannot. That is because the tools in the hardware area have been automated to the extent that hardware is yank and replace. Software tools will reach that goal sometime but until then there is work to be had.
thanx,
bill