Personally, I wouldn't spend much time trying to figure out what these people are trying to prove. Take what they say at face value. Decide if you think the arguments are comprehensive and logical, or not.

The second one makes a value judgment about what people should or shouldn't do, that person is probably no longer fully correct. I love creating things, I obsess over tiny details, and I'm interested in technology, so programming just fits for me. But it doesn't fit for everyone.

I did not find Jeff Atwood's blog post very compelling, but if his goal is to reduce the number of people who talk the talk and can't walk the walk, then it's a little too Machiavellian for my taste, but not such a bad cause.

At the end of the day, do what you love, because what you do will never love you.