Edit: I agree that GP exaggerates but...

I have been paid very good money (north of USD 85000 in Norther Europe) for stuff that was mostly so simple I could easily taught a bright and reliable 16 y.o. to do it. (I did at a similar job.)

I understand your point, but reducing the requirements for job applicants just mean more men can now apply, which will likely not change the ratio.

As an academic turned to industry, I have to agree with him. Almost all of the "CS fundamentals trivia is engineering" stuff I see is more because a bunch of CS grads who consider engineering, architecture and the like to be beneath them or else they're completely unfamiliar with how engineering works in any other engineering field.

We can have that debate but at this time, weather I agree with their opinion or not is not my point.

I feel very strongly that noone should proclaim opinion as a fact.