[michaelochurch]

Programming is awesome. If you can learn how to code, do it. If you can get better, do it. Learn skills, get better, build an independent credibility. It's a lot of fun, and you can do important technical work.

That said, your original insight-- that most software engineers do boring shit and work in environments where engineers have low status-- is accurate. It's even true of the VC darlings that still call themselves "startups". This is a great industry if you can stay on top in terms of getting the best projects and continuing to learn. It sucks if you end up as a grunt. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell how it will play out when you join a company. A nice title and high salary do not guarantee interesting work.

I recommend software if (a) you're willing to spend a lot of time and energy "self-mentoring" (which gets easier every year, thanks to online resources) and (b) you can tolerate frequent job changes-- once every 2 years not being unusual.