The feedback typically comes from people who think they are smarter than the engineers I know exactly the kind of feedback of which you speak. I once hired a t

The feedback typically comes from people who think they are smarter than the engineers I know exactly the kind of feedback of which you speak. I once hired a tester to test a 2D game with Asteroids movement mechanics. His feedback: "Where are the brakes? It doesn't go where I point it." Well, that's sort of the point of the Asteroids movement mechanic, and my tester didn't even bother to understand the point. Nerds tend to accept good solid feedback when a good reason is given; In my experience, not always. I've had a number of experiences where I explain my background as a fellow programmer, and I'm doing my level best at explaining in depth how I perceive a design as a user and why I'm reacting, and all too often, instead of getting clarifying questions or a reflection-back, I immediately get the start of some 'splainin. Conclusion jumped to after no iterations, and apparently after only a simple pattern-match. One time, I'd started explaining my reactions as a user, then got back a reply about the codebase. There were lots of changes to the UX, yet the major "plusses" for the change were from the POV of the programmer, and as a user, I'm left wondering, "What's in it for me?" Really smart nerds do strike a balance, but egos should be considered a flaw, and worked around as any other flaw. Most nerds never get past the point of only considering the egos of others to be a flaw.