Comment by madewulf

If your experience of programming becomes worthless after 10 years, then you probably did not focus on the good skills. I don't see how learning how low level hardware works, some time tried languages (C for example), data structures, networking details, debugging protocols of all kinds, structuring programs, working in teams and so on and so forth... could become worthless.

For the idea that parents and older programmers have different priorities, that may be true, but you downplay experience way too much. That said, trying to find 150% dedicated younglings, that don't spend a lot of time on side projects and just enjoying life is not that easy either