You might like this blog entry: http://www.daniweb.com/blogs/entry376.html

Someone who can slap together a site using pre-built templates and tools isn't a programmer, and a "site" is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to web-aware applications.

Thanks, I enjoyed the blog entry. So it is more or less a case of 'I created a web page therefore I'm a designer etc'. ;-) I totally agree with the creative side, an artistic background of some sort is vital to design an appealing site in all respects. But I'm still left wondering, are there more templates than individual creation here on the web? Most seem to come across with the same look/feel. Is it wrong to throw in something fresh and still look proffesional? At times I really wonder if all the studing, expense etc is worth it. And then I look at the bigger picture, templates are fairly inexpensive, but wouldn't 'my' creative side be lost??

In my opinion, Google has been the ruin of the web. By monetizing content (which they don't even own), they've created an incentive to put up sites quickly, on the hot topic du jour, strictly to get traffic and therefore ad revenue. In fact, we call these "MFA", or "Made For Adsense" sites. It is nothing for some folks to own dozens of domain names, with every site looking virtually the same, yet spanning all sorts of different topics.

Then you have the SEO snake-oil salesmen, another industry prompted and inspired by Google, all selling the idea that with just the right magic incantation, plus their special insight into the inner workings of search engines, you could be the next internet millionaire.

So, yes, I share your concern about the state of the web and whether it's worth it to truly LEARN about it in the current climate. I would focus instead on general computer science/programming. The skills you learn there translate to the web.

The climate is shifting, slowly. While Google is still the giant, their practices are generating considerable backlash and anti-Google sentiment.

Many of today's webmasters and programmers have been self-taught. That said, one of the best programmers I ever ran across had no "sheepskin" for his resume for the really good jobs. 'Self taught' carries very little value with CEO's scanning applicant resumes. On the other hand, by finishing your university training, and making sure you include all phases important to the secure management of a large system, you will have a good fighting chance against the other applicants for the jobs you may want. Especially with good grades in significant fields.
Think of it this way; fini$h college = get$ more dough.
At least, that's mho.

Templates are also created by web developers only. So when you become a web developer you could also create your own templates and sell them:p

The great thing about the web, and therefore web development, is that it is so big, and still expanding of course, that there is an opportunity to make money for anyone who actually grasps it firmly enough.

my 1st web page i wrote in pure html tags using notepad (i was 7)

I still do that, using NoteTab Pro.

Mind you, I am no web designer as anyone visiting my site will be happy to confirm

From NotePad to NotePad Pro ... look where technology has brought us in a decade.