I don't buy it. You're just exchanging one type of complexity for another. Frankly I think this is rooted in a sense of nostalgia rather than practical concern

I don't buy it. You're just exchanging one type of complexity for another. Frankly I think this is rooted in a sense of nostalgia rather than practical concern. It's clear me blow enjoys being close to the metal. He wants to be a true hacker who can drill down to each and gate. But the reality of systems is that they grow more complicated. There is a popular TED talk that claims there is no one on earth who understands how a computer mouse is manufactured. There are just too many steps and specialities (mineral identification, mining, material science, manufacturing, ergonomics, etc). Anyone who has ever re-made a piece of software knows this trap. Software starts -> features get added -> it's too complicated, we don't understand it anymore -> throw it away and start over. It almost never ends up any better. It's a trap as you quickly realise why it was so complicated.