Programming, like any other profession takes time to master, how would you react to "How to become a brain surgeon in less than 6 months"?
If you were to have a brain surgery would you choose the guy who was unemployed 6 months ago, or the other one who has been performing these surgeries for the last 20 years, every day?
My point, comparing the two, is to highlight that both of these professions affect us, one a bit more dramatically than the other.
If every medical student got to be a brain surgeon in less than 6 months we would have many more tragic accidents costing lives or making someone permanently disabled but there are many barriers in front of them that prevents this kind of thing and gives the patient some confidence.
I argue that there should be something similar in place in the field of development/programming.
In the same way that I would prefer the more experienced surgeon, I'd prefer the websites I use to be programmed by more experienced programmers, how about the cars we use? the airplanes?
Many of the articles submitted to HN that frame programming as a craft get a lot of support. And just as traditional crafts are taught through apprenticeships, I believe that the same holds true for programming. Software shops can easily find a place for enthusiastic candidates with aptitude and commitment (as demonstrated by the OP). There are plenty of tasks that the new apprentice could help with until fully trained. This is how bricklayers (a fairer comparison than brain surgeon, you'll agree) are trained, and you don't see many houses falling down.
Not to mention that the consequences of hiring a noob programmer vs. hiring a noob brain surgeon are on totally different levels ....
Jeff, congrats from another (ashamed for the moment) programmer.