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The study of cataclysmic variable stars has long been a fruitful area of co-operation between amateur and professional astronomers. In this Address, I take stock of our current understanding of these fascinating binary systems. I consider the sky surveys that are already on stream, providing near continuous and precise photometry of these systems. I show that while these surveys might be perceived as a threat to amateur observations, they actually provide new opportunities, although amateurs need to adapt and focus their efforts. I identify areas where amateurs equipped for either visual observing or CCD photometry can still make scientifically useful observations.