I don't know what you think is genius about any of this, but you're right, the flex is odd. It's something I've been seeing more and more of lately, and I find it off-putting, because, Back In My Day, I never had such a phase, where I felt like I should be given more credit for my 1337 h4xx0r skillz, because I was in high school or whatever—and I don't remember anyone else doing it, either.

I can only assume this is a consequence of modern social media having shifted the Internet from being a bunch of pseudonymous people making and sharing stuff, to everything being myopically focused on one's identity first, and what they do second (as is literally the case here).

And it looks like it works to achieve its desired effect, too—a significant portion of the comments here are congratulating the guy for doing such a thorough technical write-up, given his age. Maybe this is just me being a grumpy “old” man now, but I would've found that condescending when I was his age, and would've rather concealed my age than be condescended to as such. But, to each his own, I suppose.