I have a family. I understand where he's coming from, but only to the extent that I have to balance family time with passionate hobby time, but... I would not

I have a family. I understand where he's coming from, but only to the extent that I have to balance family time with passionate hobby time, but... I would not hire a writer that does not write in his free time. I would not hire a lead singer that does not sing in his free time. I would not hire a chef that does not cook in his free time. I would not hire a prostitute that does not have sex in her 'free time'. OK, that last one is a stretch perhaps, but my point is simple: if someone loves what they do, the act of doing it is not a chore and never "something they do for money" but "a state of mind". You can never learn all there is to know "on the job". Perhaps MANAGERS do not have to manage in their spare time, but anyone producing tangible stuff better love it. He sounds like he's trying to tell himself he can still be a good programmer without putting in the time. I'd like to tell myself the same thing, but sadly, those days are really gone (it's a slippery slope, it started with a kiss, a gf, a relationship, living together, marriage, children... pooof!)