Over at theCGS I've done an article on how CGS has affected gamer ambitions, and the outlook on gaming in general.

With the introduction of CGS to Region 3, the face of the Counter-Strike: Source has been forever changed. Before CGS, the competitive scene consisted of one major gaming LAN every two months, with a prize pot not much more than the expenses needed to go to the event. At this point Counter-Strike: Source was never perceived as a way to make any serious money, as most ambitious teams failed to amass even the salary of single CGS player ($30,000) in any given year. When you split that between five players and cover expenses, you begin to see that Counter-Strike: Source could merely be perceived as a hobby.

You can find the full article HERE.