Couldn’t agree more, Dave.  Developers have to keep learning and need to have a natural love for learning, without it they stagnate and go obsolete with the technology.  Good managers have to recognize that and provide an environment where a developer is secure in their own growth.

There are two directions you can go as a dev – you're either growing or you're dying. There is NO standing pat in this game. And as a manager, you have to provide the environment to foster the former or you're the cause of the latter. I know it sounds trite but it's certainly been my experience.