[JamesP81]

You can write drivers for special purpose hardware using those skills

Except I've spent the past 7 years writing software. I have no experience writing drivers, and in this business experience is everything. I'm probably pigeonholed as a dev from this point forward.

[Pearls Before Swine]

Not arguing... just pointing out that you aren’t exactly at ground zero for a lateral move, although you would be in some completely different field.