Potential programming skill is very much bi-modal, just like any other skill that requires abstract thinking. You have it, then learning makes sense, or you do not. Same with most engineering fields, mathematics or physics. Of course, the rockstar vs. cretin comparison is utter nonsense, and just dishonest propaganda language. You just get two Gaussian distributions with not much in-between. "Rockstars" are still rare (and generally not very useful). I have seen this time and again in fellow students, as a teacher, as reviewer etc.
The article is another transparent attempt to make people believe coding is like manual labor and hence should be in the cheapest salary class possible.