I learned new skills (or more accurately improved my minor skills to become major ones) and make more money now. I wouldn't even say my skills became obsolete, I just needed to add other skills to them that I wasn't eager to add - so I found another way. I've done that twice now - hopefully I can do it a third.
Good experience and perspective + a curiosity to learn == lots of fun + lots of money.
I came into CS expecting a cushy job which was well paid. What I found was a challenging job that placed extraordinary premium on agility and the capacity to build useful products. I love being a "tech worker".
