100% concur. In the era of layoffs, I have done some groundwork and will be hoping an LBS will hire me in the event the worst happens. I'm not the end-all be-all of bicycle knowledge, but I do what I'm doing at the very least as much as those who are currently employed at Bike Shop 'X'. Oddly enough, the guy I trust most in this mountain town runs the Performance Bike Shop. I would wager that many of us on this board could provide a public service to an LBS just by getting hired.