As I see it, the point is to set a minimum bar to filter out people who know nothing and end up coming back to complain. Presumably tinkerers who know at least the basic stuff would be willing to put the time into learning/doing the DIY hacking.
To set the bar any higher reeks to me of elitism (i.e. creating an "exclusive" club of "hackers"), which doesn't seem like his intent.
To set the bar any higher reeks to me of elitism (i.e. creating an "exclusive" club of "hackers"), which doesn't seem like his intent.