Installed Ubuntu on a fresh load of an old laptop (getting rid of Windows). Encrypted the drive. Forgot the password.

Waited a day and the pass word came to me and I was able to get back in... but for about 48 hours I was super annoyed.

I with you. I used to teach intro to programming at the university level. If you don't understand the fundamentals of how the computer works, chances are, you're going to be a pretty shitty programmer. This is a barrier, sure, but I think of it more as a gateway, a filter if you will. We need better programs/programmers, and we won't get it by lowering the bar.