Great post; I've worked independently & in interactive agencies and the biggest challenge I've seen in an agency setting is the cost, time, and effort expended into the evolution of a wireframe prototype from a raw, low-fidelity to a tantalizing, high-fidelity prototype. Problem in agencies is that UX folks are too focused on concrete information architecture-driven design (using legacy techniques) and not on exploring the solution space, and many times lack strategic foresight, rudimentary copywriting skills, and tech acumen. My thought: teach a coder, who thinks strategically, the basics of UX, competitive analysis, and pattern scoping and he will churn out a speedy & exploratory prototype more expeditiously than an agency.