I really like the 10 year plan. It might seem a long time, but if four of those years are college that's about half, and if you do a masters program that cuts it down even more.

Personally if you do four years as a CS major but program on the side or actively practice programming it's more like 5-6 years. That gives you 4 years, where you go out and get programming work experience, in the real world. In that situation, 10 years isn't much.

I think I want to learn enough programming that I work on pet projects and I have capability to understand modify lets say Selfspy or nvPY (posted on HN) or help Nixnote developer, etc.

Most people ever become genius in their own chosen field let alone they can master 3 or 4 different fields. Not to say it's not possible but highly unlikely.

Do you think that perhaps the recent "craze" to become a developer is not founded on solid group? Are people wasting their time and money? Definitely feel there is some merit to Peter Norvig's comments.