> I find that staunch static typing proponents are often middle or junior engineeers

I wouldn't go this far as it depends on when the individual is at that phase of their career. The software world bounces between hype cycles for rigorous static typing and full on dynamic typing. Both options are painful.

I think what's more often the case is that engineers start off by experiencing one of these poles and then after getting burned by it they run to the other pole and become zealous. But at some point most engineers will come to realize that both options have their flaws and find their way to some middle ground between the two, and start to tune out the hype cycles.