There is a lot of misconception about Y2K, and understandably so. The 'doomsayers' basically say that there may (or possibly or probably) be a total infrastructure collapse. The optimists misquote them by stating that "the doomsayers say there is 100% chance of collapse and there is no proof of that". As usual the truth is in the middle. Nobody knows. The chances are somewhere between 0% and 100%. Anyone who takes either extreme position (0 or 100) is wrong because NOBODY KNOWS. From what I have seen, I would narrow that down to between 2% and 99%, but no farther. I know that doesn't narrow it down much, but that's the way it is.

I have seen a lot of evidence that there will be severe problems. Those stating otherwise have only the evidence that companies who are GRADING THEMSELVES say they will be finished in time. This is like giving a nationwide standardized test to students, then having each student grade him/herself, and using the results as proof that schools are doing better.

The optimist are also saying, in effect (to make an analogy), that since you have no proof that you will have a car accident, or burn down your house, or die within the next year then you don't need insurance. Preparing for Y2K is like buying insurance, since nobody knows what will happen.

Another possibility is that the government may react to pre-Y2K panic and declare martial law or something, but that is a whole other story.