The phenomenon described here is spot on but the OP is being generous when suggesting that it is merely a "noblesse oblige" for the "smart" developer to write c

The phenomenon described here is spot on but the OP is being generous when suggesting that it is merely a "noblesse oblige" for the "smart" developer to write clearer code. In my experience these developers very quickly lose creative control of their own spaghetti -- primarily because of the combinatorial complexity that always stacks up when one doesn't value simplicity. Its as Rich Hickey pointed out in his now-famous Simple Made Easy talk, "A juggler can juggle 3 balls. A really good juggler can juggle 9. No juggler can juggle 90 or 900." I know the "smart" developers the OP describes very well and they aren't just doing a disservice to his fellow programmer but to their own creative possibilities with their code.