> Anecdotally, yes. In my experience most projects are carried by a select few 'Heroes' doing the majority of the difficult implementation and innovation, tied together by a larger volume of less impressive but still critical connective work.

But that's the nature of any project. 80% of it is 20% of the work. But the remaining 20% - the wicked problems - takes up the remaining 80%. Any given project, by "law", is going to require a hero or three.

Put another way, if you had the heros doing the less heroic stuff not only would that be a waste of resources but eventually they would update their CV and leave.