Data consistency could be maintained through stronger runtime input verification which in turn nulls everything you said.
I don't think that it would be a bad idea to have dynamically typed databases although it would put a little more strain on developing the actual application instead of having to spend time on making the database.
Seeing how consciousness is defined as being aware of one-self, machines will never be conscious. Since, we program machines and give them everything they know, every last algorithm, I don't think that we will ever be able to code a consciousness algorithm.
Read more about the weak and strong AI theories to understand what I mean.
Your university library might have a lot of books on these. Get a couple for PHP and JS and read them through simultaneously. That way, even if one book misses something you get it from the other one and the best part is, it does not cost anything.
Also, having some kind of certification like Sun's Certified Java Programmer/Developer thing can be useful
IMO, you should write something cool and then apply for some jobs and if nothing works out then just wait a while, write something else, then apply again
Ow, and you are definitely not in a hole, SAP is an awesome company. If you're bored with what you do now ask for a transfer to a different department.
Satanic Verses - Salman Rushdi
Old Man and the Sea - Hemingway