I think there are A LOT of people who are self thought and terrible programmers. But the few that are self thought and great obviously always had extraordinary potential and not getting formal training could never hold them back.

9 our of 10 business fail, so the vast majority of entrepreneur suck big time. But of those that succeed people who work better under self direction are over represented because those who exceed even when managed are also currently busy succeeding.

I know plenty of successful entrepreneurs who had long and successful careers in corporate America.

I know plenty of brilliant hackers who bailed on school because everyone there was hopelessly behind them.

I know plenty of brilliant hacker who graduated from MIT.

I also know a few MIT engineers who make me wonder how the hell they got through MIT. Not only do they suck in the real world but they are also lacking some very basic academic concepts. Did they forget them, did they ever learn them? Who knows.

Life is full of personal anecdotes.