I was a developer for IBM in Rochester, MN 20 years ago, and an intern at Cray Research in Chippewa Falls WI before that. I have to say all the engineers were impressive, knowledgeable, and humble at the same time. Software engineering was looked on as profession, and not a lifestyle or a path to a quick buck, and it showed. I guess I don't know if that's how it was everywhere 20 years ago, or if that was the mid-west culture. But I sure do miss it.