There is some advantage to “knowing your roots.” I know Kelly and I have a certain edge when diagnosing some computer problems because we actually remember when computers were simple things. We can, at times, look past the trees and see the forest. (Of course Kelly can deal with all complicated stuff as well … but then he eats, sleeps and breathes computers and has no life :p )

I have noticed similar things with people that have worked on engines or radios or aircraft … they may not know exactly how all the stuff in there works, but they have a really good grasp of the basic concepts, and can have a general idea of what is wrong. Then they can research the details of this particular circumstance later.