(Was about to write "people who hack", but think that hacking itself is a qualitatively different way of writing computer programs than what most people do.)
Using functional programming techniques, using macros, writing DSL's come to mind first.
More generally, trying to do what PG is doing with Arc - writing code that does the most using the least number of "thoughts", abstracting patterns as much as possible, the DRY principle, etc.
* Learn how to use their tools effectively
* Aggressively simplify
* Understand math
* Understand fundamental computer science principles
Thank you for also realizing this. It is just mind boggling to me how many IT people are so utterly inept when it comes to basic mathematics.
I truely believe that the fact that so many IT employees don't know math is leading to this superficial computer-geek culture.