I'm conflicted.
In one of my history classes, we learned about René Descartes. He and his contemperaries viewed animals as mechanical beings. They would experiment upon the animals, and laugh when they made noises of pain, because they believed the noises were essentially mechanical squeaking.
Obviously, we now know that animals feel pain. Scientists are currently examining and researching consciousness, and what constitutes it. I really believe that as science evolves, it will prove that animals are more conscious than we give them credit for. I believe as science evolves, our mores will evolve to condemn mistreatment and consumption of animals. Most of the meat eaters I talk to seem (mistakenly) to believe that animals they consume are stupid, and somehow that makes it ok.
At the same time, I think that humans have evolved to become an extremely lazy species. Its just easier to eat meat. Most people in a survivalist situation would eat meat, because they are uneducated about edible vegetation. So the possibility of a 100% vegan future is there, but it really depends on the state of the economy, politics, environment, etc.