I think you're misunderstanding. The problem is not that there are very good people to be second to, it's that people are cargo-culting on their observable char

I think you're misunderstanding. The problem is not that there are very good people to be second to, it's that people are cargo-culting on their observable characteristics and thus mis-valuing people. One doesn't become Erdős just by carrying around math books and sleeping on couches all the time, after all.