Lots of polarised views here. I think of it this way: if I am young and fresh from studying the latest woodworking theory from university, degree in hand, I probably think I am the shit compared to all the grandads out there who older than 35, why some even have kids! How can they keep abreast of the latest wood trends - us younger pups publish our one or two line theories on wood-npm! But.... My hands would be soft, inexperienced, and have no knowledge of actually working with real wood. If you bet your company on me, alone with other soft handed individuals, without older individuals whose hands show and have the real experience, you are screwed.

Rights of passage, and all that.