There's another area ignored generally by the professionals which I'm sure will continue to be the domain of the amateur - measuring double stars....
It can be now be done with some accuracy with webcam type cameras using speckle imaging.
Florent Losse has for many years supported the amateur community with his REDUC software. Well worth trying!
http://www.astrosurf.com/hfosaf/
(Just tell him I sent you!)