High-wage jobs from incoming companies like Apple, Google, and Eli Lilly, as well as an influx of migration from NYC, SF, and similar high-price metros, will continue to drive up the amount homeowners here are able to pay.

If you wanted to stay in the AMEX ecosystem and don't spend enough regularly to make cards with annual fees worth it then you are probably limited to the Amex Magnet card with its 200 bonus and flat 1.5% on everything (blue card is 1% on non-category spend so magnate is slightly better).  

There are bad apples in any profession and no matter your dream job, there are going to be things that you don't like about it.

Talk with the owner, Pete Hill.They replaced all of the windows in my Apple Valley town home last June -- I'm very happy with the speed of the install and the professionalism of the crew (vacuumed up the areas after the job was completed).

The things that are occurring right now such as Google, Apple, Oracle are just a continuation of many smart educated folks moving here along with an amazing university providing the workforce for those tech giants and other industries in the city that are flourishing.

Apple coming into the city is adding steroids to an already expanding city.

Do all that you can - signs, walk neighborhoods, hand out business cards, magnets on your car, etc. etc. 

I think that you are comparing apples and oranges here.

They are following Apple in creating an ecosystem that builds loyalty.

If you head further East there's Hemet, Banning, Beaumont, Desert Hot Springs or North into Hesperia, Victorville and Apple Valley.