I think that part of his point, which he has failed to articulate, is that future programmers need to undergo the inherent rigor of low level programming so as

I think that part of his point, which he has failed to articulate, is that future programmers need to undergo the inherent rigor of low level programming so as to build the mental muscle - so to speak - needed to solve highly complex problems. I believe a suitable analogy is how Roman legionaries initially trained with lead swords.