Gates was clear in the interview, that it only applied to him. He said "for my makeup" it was applicable. He also explained that he believed: "it was possible to over mythologize the idea of working extremely hard." He also said point-blank that he doesn't recommend it.

That's the only correct position to take. Quite simply to each their own. Who is anyone else to tell me how to spend my hours? Gates is careful to make a distinction between projecting how others should be, and stating how he chose to be.