But why do they care so much about hours and not about output? I would kind of understand if this was for some web technologies since older devs might not be up to speed with the latest compile-to-JS language but I can't imagine that someone who has been writing say C++ for the last 20 years would not perform better than someone fresh out of school.
The short answer is that they can't measure output. It's extremely hard for a layman to know exactly how much value he's getting out of a programmer except through another, more skilled programmer.
I think a much more charitable interpretation flies: there is a reason people invent new technology (it's better on at least one dimension than the old), and startups aren't held back by legacy considerations.
I would not call Facebook a start up anymore. They are creating their own VMs and Database systems. Most start ups don't do that. Unless that's the product.
Well I didn't call them a startup. And they are creating their own VMs and DBs which is even more reason not to hire only devs who are fresh out of school.
I did specifically state start ups. I don't live in san fransico/silicon valley, but where I live the vast majority of developers are working for small start ups and small businesses and not the facebooks of the world.
Its not meant to be accurate sampling, its hyperbole to prove a point.
But you can see for yourself. Have a look at most jobs at start ups, they're always javascript/ruby/python/fancy new framework or mobile apps to reinvent online shopping or web site analytics or something.
