What's possible is that while you were essentially forced to learn to concentrate (and therefore developed the skill), many don't know they have to learn. They'

What's possible is that while you were essentially forced to learn to concentrate (and therefore developed the skill), many don't know they have to learn. They're semi-interested in the events around them, don't know it's a problem and don't know the solution is to develop the necessary skills. Chitchat in an open room filled with developers and their challenges is different to the drone of a loud machine, or chatter of factory workers whose interests might not overlap with yours. It's a bit like having the internet at your fingers - far too easy to be distracted by interesting chatter.