The future of Client Server model

I want to hear opinions about the Client Server architecture.
1)Is client server development as easy as some software companies claims?
2)Can we rely to invest in long term proyects (> 3 years) without obsolecense?
3)How does it fit with fast evolving emerging new hardware?
4)Is Middleware doing really more profitable deployment.
5) Are better alternatives there?
Thanks. Arturo Borquez