The question is, can you make your living playing in ONLINE poker, and will you be able to in the future..

People who play correctly but not necessarily amazingly, the booksmart folks, have been making money, sometimes enough to live, in B&M games for a long time, long before the recent "poker craze", so I think its a matter of comparing to this.

Bad differences: If you rely on "reading" people, or selecting your game by the appearance and demeanor of your opponents, you will have a hard time. Some use internet communication to play as a team, comparing hands as such. Discipline is harder when you arent gaining or losing tangible assets.

Good differences: If you're a smart, tight player that makes money slowly but surely, you can increase your per hour winnings by playing multiple tables. People who dont have the confidence to play in B&M games because they suck, may play online, adding to the fish population.

In conclusion: Overall, I think its something to keep our eyes on for the next little while, but not to depend on or convert to, by any means. Its a new way to do an old thing, with some odd twists. Personally, I enjoy playing online but will never play for real money when I'm not in the same room as my direct opponents. As far as things ending when the "poker craze" washes over? Well, it may seperate the medium-good players from the good-good players, but there will always be fish, imho.