mexnix;
My advice? Get the degree. A lot of job postings that I've seen call for a "B.S. or equivalent experience". The experience is kinda hard to come by without previous experience, so you've got your classic "Catch 22" situation. The way to fix it is to get that degree. Not knowing you (or your knowledge), I can't say if the piece of paper will improve your skills (chances are good it will - there's gotta be something they can teach you that you don't know). But here's what the degree will do:

• Get your foot in the door. ("B.S. or equivalent experience? Got the degree!") When you apply for a job the "traditional way" (just sending in a resume, and not having a friend drop it on the right person's desk), your resume goes to human resources/staffing. They "screen" it vs. the job requirements. If the job calls for a degree and you don't have one, hiring managers will likely never see your resume. If it offers the option of equivalent knowledge (some do), that's hard even for software or IT professionals to gauge, let alone human resources.
• Show potential employers that you have the level of dedication necessary to stick it out. In the working world, like in school, there's a lot of cases where "You don't have to like it, you just gotta do it." No job is perfect, and you ocassionally have to deal with B.S. (not the degree sort), be it office politics or whatever. Managers know this, and if you come equipped with a degree, they also know that you had to take several classes that may have been a drag and didn't improve your computer knowledge one iota, but did let you get the degree. You'll get points for that.
• In probably the majority of cases, you'll get more coin if you've got the degree.

I can sympathize, and wish you luck in your Escape from Zephyrhills. I grew up in Florida myself (Port Charlotte), so I understand the feeling of being stuck in a small town.

- robsv