There we go, it was curiosity then. I was a late bloomer and didn't program till I was 12 and that was modding Command and Conquer.

If you don't have intellectual curiosity, then I think your career prospects in software engineering will be limited.

Perhaps I should have articulated it better above.

What I meant is that many of these bootcampers don't have that curiosity or drive to have touched code before their course. Even after getting a job, I've asked them about coding outside of work etc. they're not interested.