Did we read the same thing? I got the impression that the author realized at the end that "technically privileged" was just an illusion, and the whole point is that they don't exist.
Yes, to me this piece flies way past the "technically privileged" assertion. And in this way, it is one of the best counter-arguments to the "technically privileged" accusation some people have against our field.
Well they do in a sense. It's the difference between growing up in a family like Roald Dahl's 'Matilda' and in a family that encourages growth. I also think that having a family member in the software development would make the transition into the world of work quite a bit easier. But in the end the right attitude can trump any of these things, which is what the author discovered. I am happy for him.