Anyway, I’d also be curious to hear a compare/contrast from you about Crystal Reports vs.SSRS. From my experience, it seems like CR is all over the non-profit higher education shops, so while I need to learn it more I’d also like to know *why* they use it in the first place as opposed to anything else.

I also think you make a good point in the last paragraph. I’ve often made the mistake of thinking that duh, of course other colleagues want the best data representations in the most efficient manner. I keep forgetting that the business world is a lot like the highway: I drive from point A to point B with the goal of getting there reasonably fast and safe, whereas the 4′ tall bluehair sitting on phonebooks while driving her late-husband’s Ford LTD at 30 mph on the freeway is just trying to make it to point B without tipping the casserole dish she’s taking to the church social. We all have different goals, and some seem nonsensical to the rest of us. It sucks when you’re stuck behind those people on the metaphorical freeway, because while it’s annoying to us, it’s probably annoying to them as well. Who ultimately suffers? The traffic flow, i.e., the business’ operations. Once you can put it in perspective and realize “oh, they’re one of *those* people”, that’s half the battle right there.