I'm not sure which part of what I said is described by the "dirt path vs highway" metaphor, so I don't quite follow this thread. I was speaking of a more "programmery" type of career vs a more "businessy" one. Within the continuum between the two, there seem to me to be plenty of "highways" and "dirt paths" everywhere, regardless of where you are on that continuum.
You did mention choice(s), and I went off on my own with my silly metaphor. And your point about a continuum is good. It's certainly not a binary choice.
