[wccrawford]

>4: The automation is done, and the company continues paying the employees who now are being paid to do nothing at all. They can relax, or work on hobbies, or whatever they like.

I'm not sure this is a great outcome. It soft-locks them into their current position without any great motivation to better themselves. It also creates resentment in those around them. When the company does eventually let them go, only the most forward-thinking will still have useful job skills and can find another job.

Sure, they could quit or request a different job, but how many people can recognize those mental problems coming ahead of time and avoid it? Most people are going to be fat and happy and do nothing to get ahead. I don't even blame them. It'd be incredibly tempting for me, too. In fact, since I've been at this company so long and basically stopped growing, I kind of already have fallen into that trap. It's a pretty comfy trap since I like my work and I get paid pretty well for it. It's just not forward-looking at all.

[Firmwarrior]

Tangential: It looks to me like you've got some impostor syndrome creeping up on you. IMO you should do some game modding or addon development. It's a piece of cake, you'll look like a genius to your gaming buddies, and you'll have fun in the process