I think you are underestimating. Before this was true, but school curriculum for computing has changed a lot over the past decade and they now teach Scratch at primary schools and Python in middle school. This was pushed by Bill Gates and other people in tech who told everyone that there is a shortage and anyone can learn to code. I would find it strange if someone by age 16 has never programmed before. Obviously having done programming and being good are two different things but the field has become saturated at an entry level at least.
Many people in the field now aren't nerds anymore either but people who are just incentivised by financial prospects.
Many people in the field now aren't nerds anymore either but people who are just incentivised by financial prospects.