Yes, I think that at some point in the future (one we are hopefully quickly approaching) basic programming knowledge would be treated like arithmetic & literacy

Yes, I think that at some point in the future (one we are hopefully quickly approaching) basic programming knowledge would be treated like arithmetic & literacy and be taught to every school kid. But we aren't there yet, and there are plenty of kids (especially in poor countries) which simply don't have access to a computer and/or someone to give them that first nudge to start programming.