>>I don't get whz he should be unemployable anywhere else..
Your ability to get work done has nothing to do with getting a job.
Getting a job depends on clearing interviews. These days that means live coding over shared sessions, all kind of crazy math and puzzle questions, getting grilled over esoteric corners of CS, and your regular tests of algorithm wizardry.
If you haven't interviewed in 1.5 decades. Its very likely you are going to go through hell before you find something you like.
Your ability to get work done has nothing to do with getting a job.
Getting a job depends on clearing interviews. These days that means live coding over shared sessions, all kind of crazy math and puzzle questions, getting grilled over esoteric corners of CS, and your regular tests of algorithm wizardry.
If you haven't interviewed in 1.5 decades. Its very likely you are going to go through hell before you find something you like.