Kind of two different points here. The linux example was more directed toward using software without contributing.

Personally, I think a competent programmer is a competent programmer. It's irrelevant if he doesn't know the social conventions of the community surrounding it. It speaks little to how they can apply that tool.

It's like jumping all over someone for not knowing how to pronounce something. Just because they can't say it right, doesn't mean they don't understand it.