My observation is that there's likely a sweet spot. Though this is a multidimensional vector so it's not one sweet spot. A programmer can find a niche where th

My observation is that there's likely a sweet spot. Though this is a multidimensional vector so it's not one sweet spot. A programmer can find a niche where their skill has value for a long period of time, even if their situation (mental flexibility, willingness to learn, etc.) precludes exiting the niche. It can be a challenge to work with someone like that if you have to interface to them and their approach is to pull you all the way over to where they are. ... but sometimes that's how it is. And I've seen plenty of smart programmers smother their ability to provide value for real people under analysis paralysis while the "stupid" programmers bull-charge in with the first approach they can think of and write some ugly, stupid, spaghetti, working tools.