[stargrazer]

There is a hybrid response here. Those who are self-taught may not be aware of various algorithms or techniques for handling certain scenarios.

Self taught may have fundamental skill sets, but there is benefit in having some sort of educational background which introduces one to some of the more complicated aspects of application design and implementation.

It is that, or being a voracious reader of technical books and being a conference goer, ... ie, basically somehow being able to keep track of and understand the goings-on of current paradigms.