This is a funny topic to me. A decade ago, before Leetcode, Hackerrank, and Cracking The Coding Interview, it was common for developers to complain that software developers were losing touch with algorithmic knowledge. HN-type websites were full of discussions about clueless software engineers doing damage to companies by implementing O(n^2) algorithms that worked fine on small datasets but failed in production. It was popular to complain that modern libraries, frameworks, and programming languages were making developers too soft to write good code.

The industry responded by re-emphasizing the value of CS fundamentals and algorithmic knowledge. The training industry responded with easy tools to teach and learn these algorithms. The internet is full of easily accessible materials to teach these principles to anyone motivated enough to Google it.

Now, the popular narrative has flipped. Internet comment sections want to hate algorithms and suggest that programmers don't need to understand the basics. Just rely on the frameworks and libraries to do the right thing. Just Google the solution and weave the libraries together to do what you want.

> Whereas a young programmer in the past may have spent their extra days writing games in Basic or static web pages, hackers these days seem to do Leetcode until the wheels come off.

Young programmers don't wake up in the morning and choose between writing static web pages or grinding leetcode. There are more opportunities than ever before to learn whatever you want.

Have you actually worked with students lately? Leetcode style systems are a lot of fun for people. It's a straight to the point system that teaches algorithms and other fundamentals in self-contained brain teasers that are straight to the point. And it's trivially easy to Google for supporting training material. In my experience, the same people who are self-motivated enough to build web pages and games are frequently also interested in Leetcode style brain teasers.

People aren't choosing between one or the other. That's a false dichotomy. All of the highly driven students I've worked with have a range of experience from toy projects to Leetcode style learning challenges.