Spectral lines: In the swim, or on the beach?

In recent years, as never before in history, whole platoons of engineers and scientists have together “ridden the waves” of expanding electrotechnology. The experience has been exciting and rewarding. Their careers (and, for the most part, their salaries) have crested with the waves. But many are finding themselves in the troughs, or even worse, on the beach. What is the reason, and what can be done?