I think that Epstein is getting at a point that there are other factors at play (genetic makeup, etc). And that it's not just a matter of getting 10,000 hours,

I think that Epstein is getting at a point that there are other factors at play (genetic makeup, etc). And that it's not just a matter of getting 10,000 hours, then you're a superstar. Having read Outliers, I'm not sure that Gladwell was so prescriptive that he thought that 10,000 hours was the only thing that mattered, I think he was just making the case that it was a prerequisite for getting there. There are a lot of musicians who have played 10,000 hours and aren't as good as The Beatles, or a lot of people who have coded for 10,000 hours and aren't Bill Gates. Talent does matter.