Think about a hypothetical person who didn't graduate from high school, but taught herself to program, started a company, went through YC, went public, and made a ton of cool products, money, fame, prestige. Should she be offended when people say that a high school diploma is important to be successful in modern life? If she takes offense whenever someone suggests that we should be helping more kids graduate from high school or go to college, would you feel she is justified?