|It's incredibly frustrating, after years of being in a relative comfort zone with the realm of general desktop/server software, to try to learn more about embedded, and then be uncertain as to what materials you even need.

That is, to me, one of the greatest feelings in the entire world. I remember being a kid and installing a qbasic compiler for the first time. HOLY CRAP it was like learning magic. There was SO much wonder.

Now it's just work. I know how to make my computer do pretty much whatever I want. Microcontrollers offer me the opportunity to experience that wonder of learning something new again.