If there were formal training that made a good developer, we'd have a licensing process much like plumbers and electricians have. I'm very, very confused what formal training you think exists that produces good developers, SJWhiteley. I've never heard of such a thing, nor have any of my coworkers or our recruiters.

My 4-year degree taught me the plumbing equivalent of "being able to use a faucet and identify its parts". Learning to disassemble it, diagnose problems, and fashion faucets out of thin air came from reading books no one told me to read.