I'd be happy to pay a good contractor/plumber/electrician if he could actually be on time, come out and quote when they say they will, and do the job right.
So far I've found that a little research a bunch of mistakes and a whole lotta' learning has been less expensive, more rewarding, and keeps my mind super-active. I tend to do all my own electrical, plumbing, tile, painting, and landscaping. Only time I ever paid so far to have something fixed was HVAC related, and even now, I've got enough know-how to generally diagnose and fix if I have the time and equipment.
Things I can't do or won't do:
* I will not get up on a 3+ story sloped roof to replace shingles and do chimney caps... I don't have a tall enough ladder or an understanding enough wife.
* Repave my driveway
* Cabinet building. I don't have the right equipment, the skill, or the patience.
Needless to say, I have a ton of respect and admiration for what Jester is doing in this thread. I've built a few houses in my life, but never from start to completion, and never by myself. Just bits and pieces.