The question was asked on another blog about why anyone would insist on 64 bit computing at this time when the technology is so new and computers are problematic. The same question, honestly, could be asked about Windows Vista, as a replacement for XP, which is a capable operating system, despite what I may usually think about it.
Now the question may be valid for the average end user, but for IT pros, it's a no brainer. The simple truth is, while you may make purchasing suggestions, usually it is someone else who ultimately makes the decisions, and if you're not on top of the game, you'll find yourself pretty quickly obsolete. There are a lot of business owners who haven't forgotten the insane 90's when a computer was obsolete as soon as it popped out of the box. They don't want to repeat that debacle with their networks today, and as soon as a contemporary mentions the hottest buzzword, they are asking questions, questions an IT pro needs to be able to answer.
As a support technician, my workplace has not upgraded to Vista. If I didn't have a working computer elsewhere (school) loaded with Vista, I'd be drawing a blank when users call in with Vista related questions. End users don't HAVE a choice in operating systems, or at least not one they are aware of, when they purchase their computers. They basically get whatever the manufacturer loads, and you can't find manufacturers loading their machines with XP. Getting a new machine loaded with LINUX is actually easier than getting a new one loaded with XP.
Because I've used both operating systems, I can make an informed decision. The same can be said of 64 bit computing. If you haven't worked with it, it's hard to give the kind of decision that a manager n eeds; the kind of decision that will give them confidence in decisions that you make in the future.
By the end of the year, I should have a home network with at least 5 computers (and hopefully a server...we're in negotiations...lol!) I hope to run a variety of platforms, and a variety of different hardware configurations, from my "dinosaur" PIII Linux machine on up to my TRS-80 case mod (it's gonna be HOTT! Man!). As I peruse IT employment sites, I see a lot of demand for cross platform experience. And I intend to meet that demand (but Mac still sucks! LOL!)