I have a silly remark to make about this article... Isn't it also because current programmers in their 50's have basically less programming experience than the ones in their 30's ? I had one of the first usable family computer when I was 6 and I am already in my late 30's, if you have let's say 20 more years of experience than me, on what computer did you have them ? My bet is that it is a picture of what we have now and not a tendency.