[levosmetalo]

For some (many?, most?) people pairing is just too intrusive, makes them uneasy, makes them nervous and, thus, less productive.

No amount of productivity metrics can overcome this drawback. I'm not particularly introverted, but the same moment someone tries to force me to do pair programming for longer that few minutes a day at the time convenient to me, I would start looking for another job. What's next? Trying to feed me with energy drinks to make me more durable/productive? Or giving me drugs to make me more creative/productive? Thanks, but no thanks.

[beat]

I worked in a pair programming shop for nine years. What I saw was that some programmers couldn't handle it at all (you're probably one of them), but others took to it like a fish to water. I can go either way myself.

But again, it's not about the productivity of the individual. It's about the productivity of the organization. If I put on a manager hat and one programmer can't deal with team processes, no matter how good she is, she's gone. If I want the benefits of pairing for a team, I won't hire programmers or keep programmers who can't deal with it.