[houst0n_]

I've actually never seen "the system" 'work', in that I never willingly hire grads and almost none of my experienced staff have ever had a formal education. But then again I'm not doing hardcore algorithmic stuff in the valley.

My only point was that, at least in my experience and situation, school/'normal progression' means very little in reality. Aas such I don't think it can be used as any sort excuse for anyone's situation.

I was comprehensively failed by the education system in my country and it made no difference. Shit; having thay experience actually seems to be the trend that all the best people I've worked with share.

Smart people are smart people. Some keep going and end up as weird and twisted as us, and some don't.

The ones who kept going tend to be those who got to where they were in spite of their situation. Maybe your world is different to mine tho.