I think you're right, and I also think the age discrimination issue is overblown.
Take this article. It says that some companies ("dozens") place some ads targeted at younger audiences.
NOTHING indicates that it's a major trend or that they do this a lot. The article is written because of a legal issue. But if you only read the comments you get an impression of the streets filling up with discarded old ultracompetent programmers.
I don't have the whole picture either of course, but a long life in the industry gives me the impression that it actually mostly does work just the way you think it should.
Take this article. It says that some companies ("dozens") place some ads targeted at younger audiences.
NOTHING indicates that it's a major trend or that they do this a lot. The article is written because of a legal issue. But if you only read the comments you get an impression of the streets filling up with discarded old ultracompetent programmers.
I don't have the whole picture either of course, but a long life in the industry gives me the impression that it actually mostly does work just the way you think it should.