The 'bullshit' he is referring to is not the software itself, but its arcane interface. Think about the first time you tried to install a new version of python, only to have both version end up in your PATH somehow. Or run into permission issues and someone told you to run 'chmod 777.' As a novice, hours are easily lost trying to find the perfect commands to do something, and it often ends up being only one or two lines, something an expert would know immediately.
His job as a mentor is to empower his students to do research, not be sysadmins. Selecting a student based on a pre existing ability to use a tool drastically limits the pool.
His job as a mentor is to empower his students to do research, not be sysadmins. Selecting a student based on a pre existing ability to use a tool drastically limits the pool.