Anyone who'd even work for someone who thinks of them as "hardcore nerds" (this characterization shows a level of disrespect for skills and knowledge that I can

Anyone who'd even work for someone who thinks of them as "hardcore nerds" (this characterization shows a level of disrespect for skills and knowledge that I can't even fathom) isn't likely the sort of person who's gonna give 110% like a real professional IT person would. A proper IT guy doesn't build "random unmaintainable" anything. If they do, then you totally hired the wrong guy. ;)