No dude, you're just old, in an industry with entrenched ageism. Just like the other accomplished engineers in the story living in mobile homes, couchsurfing, and living in a bus. Not a lack of skill or relevance, so much as an excess of gray hair.
Imagine the same story if he went for management instead of engineering, he'd be a CEO somewhere, greatly loved for his eccentricity, etc.
Capt Crunch would likely do better if he bathed regularly, washed his clothes, and stopped shouting at people whose behavior he doesn't like (and hapless waiters who bring him substandard bacon). And then there's that pesky criminal record.
Years ago one friend of mine went to a conference Draper was at. During a break he went outside for a smoke, well away from the building. Draper left the building through the same door, saw him smoking, and did his "I'm going to scream at you now" act.
My friend had no idea who he was, and as a result almost punched Draper in the face.
Then there's his criminal record. But to Draper it's all a persecution complex. He doesn't have enough sensitivity as a human being to understand why many people didn't want to work with him at any age.
FTA: "John was a little strange and Jobs felt better staying away from him," says Mr. Wozniak
Was I the only guy to find that line amusing?
My guess about what made him uncomfortable? John probably wanted Steve to "work out" with him.
Source: I was into phone phreaking in the late 70s and was friends with John for a while. Until one day he asked me to work out with him. And then I found out what he meant. No thanks!
To explain my discomfort, can I just say that there was an obvious sexual aspect to the "workout" and leave it at that?
http://edition.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/07/24/paranoia.id...
Maybe if your view of "this industry" stops at Silicon Valley startups. But there has always been a place for older programmers / hackers in the world, and there's a reason the stereotype of the "UNIX Greybeard" exists in the first place.
Personally, If I had money to spend hiring people, I'd hire Captain Crunch in a heartbeat. Hell, I'd hire him to do nothing but sit around and smoke weed all day, and appear at events and what-not, just to support a legend like this. And think about the "geek cred" of being the company that John Draper works for.
It's too bad Capt. Crunch has fallen on such hard times. I wonder what's happened since this article was written?