I think Zhang's previous result was good enough to rebuff Hardy's claims.
Actually I think Math is more or less a young people's game is because whence someone be super successful and famous it's kinda difficult psychological to retain the previous mental state and push out similar results.
This was an interesting one - a proof by a 67 year old retiree that nobody in the field knew about for 2-3 years after because they didn't read their email.
The discovery of these pentomino tilings is an interesting achievement and evidence of an exceptional mind, but it's very far from a major advance in mathematics.
I think you're conflating Hardy's thoughts as a mathematician, with the politics of his country of origin. The two, as far as I know, weren't really connected
The structure of the modern education system is what Brittain designed to run an effective empire before any communication system existed. Every student made to operate independently as an arm of the British empire with standardized knowledge and skills, like cogs in an enormous beautiful machine.
Actually I think Math is more or less a young people's game is because whence someone be super successful and famous it's kinda difficult psychological to retain the previous mental state and push out similar results.