HAHA I know what you mean. Speaking of IT everybody I know wants me to go back to school to try and get an IT job because I am very good with computers and not to bad with networks. My wife is a sales person for NACR which is an Avaya platinum business partner and more than likely I could easily walk into a good IT job if I wanted to. Computers are a hobby/passion and I think being an IT would make me hate them and the idiots that use them.
Just stay away from the 'crash courses' and 'MCSE in a month', and get a real degree, if you have actual interest. Some of the above may land you an 'IT job' at a local library, but are pretty misleading in their 'placement stats,' BS they'll feed you on job market, and won't get you into an interview in any tech company. I've interviewed hundreds of people for IT, QA and sw engineering jobs, and been through thousands of resumes - the 'quick certs' all go in the trash unless they have actual *experience*. If it's a real (college) degree, that can at least get you in the door for an interview, then we find out 'did they do *anything* in school, or just the motions/can this person be taught?'
I'm sure someone may disagree, but MCSEs without experience are a dime a dozen, and usually not worth that dime..in *tech* companies, at least. Go downstream for a government or local business job, and it becomes easier, though.
On topic - many modern systems will detect overload conditions and offline the port, as Steve said.
Your 'very high end system' really just boils down to the USB controller in use for the most part, and any additional sensors that may exist for USB voltage/current/load detection.
