I disagree.
I started using WordPress in January 2004. I was invited to join Automattic in 2006. I never once wrote any code or even tried.
What I did do was a huge amount of Support in the wordpress.org forums, and I write the first guides covering everything from changing your password in the database (there was no other option at the time), how to insert adsense, lots of CSS stuff and more. I know of other current Automattic employees who came that same forum route.
Code is needed obviously, but you also need people who will support others in using the program you create.
When I started in the forums I would see the then current WP devs replying to questions. Matt in particular would reply, but he replied as a dev would talk to another dev. He was always technically correct but he wasn't really good at explaining. I - and others - could explain in a way that people understood.
I would like to think that the very positive and helpful way the forums were run was a helpful step when people were looking to what blogging software to use at that time.