I don't think we're communicating. You asked:
Have you really met anyone who wanted to actually put effort into something, had no barriers (lack of money / family support / etc) and didn't manage to do it?
And got in reply:
I also thought anyone could learn to code at at least a basic level, until I worked for a year as a computer science instructor...
You then produced a no-true-Scotsman argument to the effect that students don't qualify as a counterexample.
All I'm asking for is for some kind of confirmation that he thought the kids were actually trying hard, which we all know (without documentation, yes) isn't universally true of students.
It's also often true that instructors don't know what's going on in all the students' personal lives. People who are pressed in other ways don't always make it known, so you could easily see how you might mistake someone who didn't learn it with someone who couldn't learn it.
And got in reply: I also thought anyone could learn to code at at least a basic level, until I worked for a year as a computer science instructor...
You then produced a no-true-Scotsman argument to the effect that students don't qualify as a counterexample.