[altendo]

The thing is, memorization itself should -not- be the primary skill of a sysadmin.

A sysadmin should know how to troubleshoot, how to use tools, and (more importantly) how to learn how to use the tools.

I don't want to discount the value of someone who still remembers how to handle seemingly arcane tasks like iptables. Experience has its weight in gold, and memory definitely contributes to its value, but there's more to it than that. It is the capacity and willingness to learn in any situation, however, where a talented sysadmin really shines.