[zer0defex]

Knowledge != Experience. Education, Sex, Race, pffh - all bullshit - experience trumps all of it. Top talent doesn't need bullshit technicalities and qualifications to shine and anyone that uses any of the above to tear others down has hit the glass ceiling of their own ability and see no other way to look good without tearing others down. In day to day life, these people sometimes seem like they are getting ahead, but in my experience, you can't escape karma and these folks almost always get weeded out over time (on a competent team).

I'm sure you've seen the image showing the creation of a simple program and the variations created during different stages of a programmers career (http://www.ariel.com.au/jokes/The_Evolution_of_a_Programmer....). You aren't the exception, you will find yourself following this exact progression in your career.

Oh, and mind your ego, rockstar's aren't worth the trouble if they are a complete asshole to everyone around them. No one, I repeat, no one, is worth so much. Also, don't tie your self-worth to your career and job level - it'll hurt 10x more if and when you get laid off or fired the first time. It's not personal, it's just business.

Last thing, no matter how valuable you think you may be to the company, the closer you are to the frontline of bringing new money into the biz and the easier this correlation is seen by management is the real measure of how important you are to the company. Sales is the lifeblood of any company, don't fool yourself into thinking technical ability by itself trumps someone half as good as you technically but 3x the salesman you are.

[CyberFonic]

Yup! Sales is very difficult - you get knocked back at least 10 times for each sale you do make. Not a career for anybody who craves approval and recognition.