I've found that even sitting at the kids' table you can make sure people in the rest of the business know that you're not just a code monkey. I try to ask questions, make suggestions, make sure people know me and that I contribute more than just lines of code to the business. Even though I have little desire to move up to the adult table I think it's good for your long-term career to be known as more well-rounded. Plus if the list of layoffs comes around I don't want to be just a name and title to the people above me.

more than that, you can be both. that's really what consultants are (at least, the "small" kind, like me). there's a market for people that can both code and talk. and, if you like to code more than talk, but can talk when necessary, then it can be quite lucrative.

and it actually makes the coding easier. some of the most frustrating parts of development come from not being in control - you are very much dependent on the person above whose talking to the client. and it helps the client too, because with less buffer they can get faster feedback. which again helps you, because you can do faster iterations and understand more closely what the customer wants...