I've mostly noticed that Disney/Pixar do the best job of doing 3D, because they make in unobtrusive. Of course, that raises the question of why do it at all, other than to raise ticket prices.

And pretty sure that Avatar only came out last year, which was 2009. o_O So the 3D "boom" hasn't been around that long. I think it's been used before then, but Avatar was what made it popular.

Do eet! (And really, I didn't think Illustrator was used that much anymore, but I guess it depends on what you're doing. I haven't used it in yeeears...)