Kme,Good medical transcriptionist are indeed in demand.
If what I am hearing you ask is whether you will be able to make a living (not get rich) as a medical transcriptionist in the future and whether the cost of a good education will be worth it, then the following is my answer:
Kme- It depends on many factors.
1. Your attitude.
Can you sit at a keyboard for long hours typing what someone else has dictated? Can you refrain from the impulse to discuss with any other human being what you hear in those dictations, regardless of the integrity of that person, because it violates the patient's confidentiality? Can you take constructive criticism from others in order to advance your knowledge and abilities?
2. Your speed and accuracy in keyboarding (macros and expanders help here). Also a good working knowledge of grammar and punctuation are important.
3. Your ability to quickly find the correct answer(s).
A good hard copy library, good internet searching skills, good software are extremely important for your success but you need the knowledge of how to use them efficiently. A good school will teach you how to do this. Also, of help, are these boards after you have checked every other resource you have access to.
4. Your education.
You get what you pay for and there are good schools out there. Check the AAMT site for their input on what constitutes a good school.
5.Money and time management.
Can you budget your income for the times when the work flow is less than optimum? As in any production-based industry, there will be times when the work is not as plentiful as other times. In fact, there will even be times when you are flooded with work and might need to work longer hours than usual to meet your turn-around-time so you also need to be a good time manager.
In the lean times can you and would you be willing to work at other things to supplement your income from medical transcription? Your medical trancription education will translate into many job opportunities in many other medical-related fields that sometimes need additional help.
6. Your adaptability.
Can you easily change gears when necessary and learn the idiocycracies of each dictator/account so that you manage your work flow with efficacy? If necessary, could you and would you take on other temporary work to help supplement your income from medical transcription?
7. Your need for benefits.
Do you have or need life and/or medical insurance or can you be put on someone else's insurance?
8.Working conditions.
Are you going to work for yourself at home or for a national company, an MTSO or a hospital, clinic, etc.? Each situation brings with it advantages and disadvantages.
9. Balance in your life.
You need to be able to do things that satisfy your other needs and to have good support from the other people in your life. Medical transcription should be a part of your life but not the whole.
10. Your resourcefulness and determination.
Are you willing to "cold call" various medical offices, etc. , send out brochures and/or resumes,cover letters, etc., put up posters, search the want ads, let people know you're in business ( a lot of jobs come from word of mouth)
Are you willing to test for various companies, etc. and if you are not accepted right away are you willing to try, try again until someone says, "You're hired. Can you start on Monday?"
Again, I say that good medical transcriptionists are in demand.
Good luck with your decision. 
Betty S
