It is very arrogant. Don't confused it with a healthy dose of skepticism (not scepticism). And you are right, you could have gone out and use many of the python libraries, R, matlab the list goes on to be able to develop and test trading strategies. But you have to know the programming languages. So to give you a little context, when I was a math major my programming skills were lacking. Joined an investment club at my university where automated trading was the focus. I didn't know where to start, found neuroshell trader, and started to use it. Like I said steep learning curve, and not for everyone. But it worked for me. I went on to pay for my senior year AND part of grad school with no loans, not borrowing money from my parents etc. When I finished my masters in mathematical and computation finance, my programming skills were light years a head as well as understanding the quant workflow. So for those who don't have that education background or your 20 years of experience then this CAN work for them if they put the effort in. But it is highly arrogant for someone to say it doesn't work.
Not sure why you want to bring heroin into it because your example doesn't work at all. There is science behind what heroin does to you, the receptors it binds to, the physiological effects etc. A better example would be for someone to say heroin doesn't get them high, so it doesn't work at all. Yet, others say that it does. Your example, does not work for your argument at all.
You have been in finance almost longer than I have been alive, yet still can't construct an argument properly. Also make claims about how long accounts were open, without even doing a little research. Something so simple was over looked yet I have accept you "years" of experience. GTFO