It's funny - when I read that list of names, even though I knew a few, I thought of my younger brother. I'm quite sure he wouldn't have even heard of any of them, yet he's developing for some company all kinds of systems - from web, to Java and C++ backends and even software for GPS and other devices. Would I not hire him only because he's not interested in inspiring stories about people he doesn't know? Just because he chooses to use the algorithm or formula and not be interested in whoever came up with it? It might make sense in author's company - he might want to have people who are exactly the same as him around him so they can talk and talk about the best practices and such, but it doesn't make sense for me.