I was the Support Engineer at my last job and I hated it b/c it was the dumping grounds for all calls and angry customers and issues. I had to fix things that I should not have had to fix and got no help/recognition (I even got the old "You should be lucky to even have a job at all" line from the then-PM).

Now I am an actual Software Engineer and am outside of the Support Desk/Maintenance level; but knowing what it entails, I have my hand and mind ever-ready to assist my current employer's support needs. I make sure to tell him how well he's doing... if it wasn't for his expertise and skill, we would be in great heaps of trouble.

Great post.