Most new projects here are web based, or windows console/form apps using web services. I see the future will be more linked and connected than ever before whether it's web based or windows based. We do maintain a lot of client/server or winForms app here from the past, using VB6, c/c++. In reality, it will take a long time before they are replaced since they have been integrated with the business process for years.

A great idea, I'd suggest to start with some common task with new technology, such as marshup.