Don't expect too many answers to your survey as there aren't many illustrators on here. However, there's plenty on here who have commissioned illustrations, so maybe
the questions could be expanded to encompass others.
The questions are a bit general though. For instance, it depends when one started as an illustrator. When I started out there were no computers and drawing skills were a must. Today, if
someone does a few illustrated logos using Adobe Illustrator, they can call themselves an illustrator but they probably can't draw for toffee. It also depends what kind of work they do.
Half of my work is still done traditionally because I work mainly in children's books these days, and so I'm fighting sometimes against using technology. So personally, I think technology
has been more of a help than a hindrance to my abilities, I just wonder how much life drawing is done in uni's these days, not a lot I bet!