No matter how you slice it, special effects is here to stay.  Sure, the more elaborate and technical the gimmick, the more people will flock to see it.  However, as more and more overseas resources dwindle and prime locations become more dangerous to film in, Hollywood will resort to the convenience of computer reproduction to bring those place to life.  Even period movies will see it's fair share of computer imagery just to put the story into a proper historical setting.