After such a long time learning, using, and programming for Windows (and for that matter MS-DOS before that) change can be daunting to face. Maybe even a little claustrophobic. But with Windows 8 changing the game, and no clear idea of how Windows will mutate beyond that in the future, and the rise of other platforms... it never hurts to start opening horizons a little.

This matters even more for programmers. Users have a learning curve (curse?) but nothing like the depth software development requires once you move beyond "Hello World" and programmable calculator levels of programming.

I don't think there is any "one path" for everyone nor should there be. However those dealing with VB6's end of life face a fork in the road anyway.