I interpreted it as if the individual doesn't have an innate curiosity and need for answers, how things work, how to tweak things, an endless desire to learn. I

I interpreted it as if the individual doesn't have an innate curiosity and need for answers, how things work, how to tweak things, an endless desire to learn. If they don't have that "hacker spirit", then it's unlikely they are going to be immensely successful or game-changing. Anyone can get a job doing coding from learning it at any age.