So true, and the nature of the work is also really different. Kind of unrecognizable.

Before, there was a majority of folks who were into computers & programming as their hobby, since their teens / earlier, socialized around it, had personal projects as well as their day job - not saying it was healthy, but that's how it was. Now, mostly people that just did ok at school, wanted an easy/decent paying job, and do it as a 9-5.

I’m definitely projecting a bit, but I find these generalizations harmful.

I work with people constantly romanticizing the good old days in my company, and being part of the new shitty days is not a good feeling. I’m sorry it’s different

Eh, once you strip away the shiny of today, the work and what we do isn't that much different. Also, it wasn't an industry full of geniuses either as you allude to but a mixed bag like today. The bag is just larger now. The "9-5"ers had it right all along.

He just said they did it as a hobby since childhood. That doesn't make them geniuses.

That is still true in many places outside the US, where salaries haven't bubbled up, mostly geeks and nerds.

Money has this way of ruining good things.