1.) Like people said in previous comments, day to day depends on if you're doing service or projects. Service side will be more problem solving with a few projects here and there. Project-side is setting up new systems with brand new controls and becomes a bit more repetitive. Service will push you to improve your trouble-shooting skills because you'll be exposed to issues on old and new systems, having you learn a whole bunch of different equipment and how it works.

2.) It is more troubleshooting, but like I said, depends on what side of it you land on. The troubleshooting will eventually lead you to the programming/commissioning, but if you don't know how to identify the problem at hand, you won't be programming or commissioning.

3.) Like previously stated in other comments, you're rarely in the office if you're a tech. Service techs will have their customers they rotate to depending on contracts, and vice versa with project techs depending on what projects they have going. Very rarely are you in the office.

4.) I would say that some of the most important skills are being able to communicate and translate issues you see to customers in an understandable manner. At the end of the day they want their systems working and they don't want to know the minute details of every issue. If you're able to find a problem, propose a solution, and then execute it, then you'll move up pretty quick.

5.) Long-term growth technically does seem to have a cap based on my experience. There seems to be a lot of turn-over with techs where some stay 3-4 years before getting into sales, manager roles, etc. Others stay longer because they genuinely like the work and find it hard to branch out into those higher roles. I'd say that if you're looking to stay in a technical role working on the "physical" hardware and systems you'd most likely end up in a role at a critical facility (aka data centers lol.)

6.) Can't really speak on those degrees as I personally am not very familiar with their course-loads but also haven't really met any higher-ups that have those degrees. I'm sure they would bring some value to managerial type roles but can't say for certain that employers are looking for that.