In order to not get distracted w/ the routines that produce less than elite programmers :)
my point was, why should we invest in trying to produce elite programmers?
I don't know why you or anyone else in particular would. I do think there are people out there looking forward to become the very best they can, and it seems to me there is not enough adequate guidance.
If the word "elite" was replaced with "competent" would you still ask why? I think the underlying question is a good one.