Why don't we require that all coders learn how to punch cards too? Or how about we require that they learn enough physics to understand why a transistor works? Or enough chemistry to understand how to fabricate a processor?

I do agree that engineers don't understand computer architecture at a low level until they're forced to get their hands dirty with assembler, but how low do they need to go? Every peice of knowledge has its place, and I firmly believe that most application software engineers have no use for asm these days. This evolution in software engineering will continue (as it has over several years) to the point where today's modern languages will be yesterday's artifacts. Don't try to stop this process just to be nostalgic, or to push your belief that it's important that everyone understand how a computer really works. You'll fail if you do.

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