We tend to prefer the word "role" over "position," these days. I think this hints at a quasi-idealistic blindspot we tend to assume, when it comes to questions like these.
Ultimately, you can't reason about this (IMO) without accounting for the hierarchical aspect. Saying "dev with super powers is similar to saying ""dev with one foot in management" because it captures roles and hierarchy. That's all you really need to know. There are mundane aspects to this: "engineers ... find their own powers magnified 10-fold..." Managers impact the work of multiple people, therefore... multiplication.
The less mundane aspects of this are sociological. Cultural distinctions, I guess you could call it. For example, in a not-so-long-dead culture, "X with superpowers" was how most professions worked. The called it masters & apprentices. A brilliant master, aided in his productivity by apprentices and journeymen was a rhetorical ideal.
The modern ideal feels a little confused. Our ideal seems to be (eg, our vocabulary) non-hierarchical. Leading is a role, not a position. OTOH, I think this makes us avoid some questions.
Ultimately, you can't reason about this (IMO) without accounting for the hierarchical aspect. Saying "dev with super powers is similar to saying ""dev with one foot in management" because it captures roles and hierarchy. That's all you really need to know. There are mundane aspects to this: "engineers ... find their own powers magnified 10-fold..." Managers impact the work of multiple people, therefore... multiplication.
The less mundane aspects of this are sociological. Cultural distinctions, I guess you could call it. For example, in a not-so-long-dead culture, "X with superpowers" was how most professions worked. The called it masters & apprentices. A brilliant master, aided in his productivity by apprentices and journeymen was a rhetorical ideal.
The modern ideal feels a little confused. Our ideal seems to be (eg, our vocabulary) non-hierarchical. Leading is a role, not a position. OTOH, I think this makes us avoid some questions.