It is very important to understand that these are my own opinions, and nothing else. I want you to read what I have to say, and think about it. Do not agree with me, form your own opinion.
Back in the old days whenever a computer, calculator, VCR, or similar would misbehave, people like me were asked to fix the defective hardware/software. Each job well done was rewarded with a small amount of money, but more importantly, new knowledge and experience. The solutions were of course - in all cases where possible - not temporary solutions.
That was then. Now we're in the Microsoft Era. The new generation of nerds are no more than zealots who can repeat the mantra "reinstall or upgrade" whenever asked for advice about a computer problem. To the new generation of nerds, knowledge is unimportant; they just want to try to prove to themselves that they are in fact experts by making a little bit of money. The nerds have become true nerds - they know how to copy cool games and applications from their friends, they know how to over clock their systems to make their games run faster and they know how to meet their love of their life (at least for a week or two) through IRC.
Today, any idiot who can find the "install new hardware" icon in Windows95 is a self appointed expert. True Windows experts do exist, but they are hard to spot since there are so many "experts" in the Windows community.
I am still of the old school - I analyze problems, try to determine the source of the problems and try to prevent it from happening again. Since Windows is so widespread, and since I am known to fix problems no one else wants to waste the energy on fixing, I have had to repair very many Windows95/98/NT installations. I have not got any help from the Windows community to speak of. I keep getting "reinstall or upgrade", which means that I have to do everything myself.
A true nerd is familiar with machine code, understands the inner workings of operating systems and report bugs to the company responsible for the software which is causing problems to ensure that the problem won't happen again (provided that the company is serious about their product).
In two or three nerd-generations, the only support which can actually say something worth listening to will be the commercial support at different companies. In the future, you won't be able to call the "nerd next door" to get a technical problem fixed.