Being a sysadmin (and sometimes classified as a b@$t@rd one at that), I have to disagree with you, but I can see your point of view since you mentioned managers and consultants. Once you let someone else manage your data, then yes you are giving up control.

You also have it wrong - the time consuming tasks are the users. If you don't want to maintain servers, the you should become a trainer and leave the 'hard' stuff to the rest of us. Our usefulness has not waned, and when the fit hits the shan, we're the first one everybody runs to saying they can't get their e-mail/files/whatever.

IT managers should never be let near the servers anyway, and then, at the end run of a network cable and heavily supervised.