As also stated by you that it doesn't take long to reach there. Average software engineers could reach there within 5-7 years. Assuming that a person only start

As also stated by you that it doesn't take long to reach there. Average software engineers could reach there within 5-7 years. Assuming that a person only started taking cs in university and started working after graduation, that still puts him at this level below 30s. That's not counting the ppl who started programming young, or the ppl who learn faster than average, or the ppl didn't graduate and went straight to work, etc. My point is that OP's points really only applies to the ppl who are new to the job. Inter-person skills comes into the play in just a few years.