The obvious downside (if you are a programmer) is that they will like it, and will want to pursue it professionally, thereby reducing programming to yet another

The obvious downside (if you are a programmer) is that they will like it, and will want to pursue it professionally, thereby reducing programming to yet another saturated market with low pay and difficulty finding work. I think people come with cynicism because it is people who have the most to gain from a large and cheap programming workforce who are most vocal about it.