  CKM theory has scored novel successes recently, namely vindication of weak
universality and its first decisive test in CP studies. While this does not
weaken the case for New Physics, one cannot count on the latter to induce large
discrepancies in future studies. To establish smallish deviations one needs
precise predictions; those in turn require accurate CKM parameters. I list
strategies for extracting $V(cb)$, $V(ub)$ and $V(td)$. After short comments on
New Physics in semileptonic B decays and on $\Delta \Gamma (B_s)$ I review the
CP phenomenology in B decays and stress that a comprehensive program of
studying flavour dynamics has to form an essential complement of our next
adventure, uncovering the physics behind the electroweak phase transition.
