CNBC at 20: The pulse of the Street, but for how long?

CNBC has turned 20, and we would be remiss if we didn't take a moment to mark the occasion by evaluating the network's impact on the financial world.

First, a little surprise: The primary strength of CNBC is, arguably, not what you may think. Most people would probably cite CNBC's ability to rapidly convey financial data or educate the public or even entertain us with stock picking shows like "Mad Money" and "Fast Money" as its greatest features.