Any ROM hackers that can't program shouldn't be hacking.
That's the kind of attitude that makes the researchers/real ROM hackers look bad. At the same time, the post you were responding to is what makes the ROM hacking population in general. They make it
look like
everyone expects all the hard work to be done by others. In general, most probably look at it like that. It makes sense though, not everyone is going to have time to learn how to do the extra complicated stuff. The public image just looks bad, that's all.
To be fair, I haven't looked at the RPG Maker/real programming side of the image, so I don't know how bad it is over there. I'm sure the people over there have very exciting things going on though. It definitely requires more skill to learn a computer language to make the game, even if it were a basic one. <-- Don't quote me on it being a basic programming language, as I have not looked at it. No matter how easy or hard the language is, the closest we got is PokeScript/XSE/[insert other scripting program here.]
Those don't have the extra power you have unless we use ASM hacks. Even then we probably can't get the power you are allowed with actually programming it.
The main upside to ROM hacking is that we can play the games on a real GB/GBC/GBA/NDS if we have the "special equipment" to do so. If you're good enough, you could spend time making your own homebrew ROM for the system itself if you wanted to. That's what DevKitPro is for! ;)
Not trying to bash either side though. ROM hacking requires a lot of research, but most people don't have the capacity to use the research to its full potential. ASM hacking is very complicated for most and requires a lot of time and understanding of the game's engine. On the other hand, programming is very similar across all the languages, but requires the right skills to learn it. You can customize the game much more than ROM hacking with ease. The downside would be that you probably won't be developing for a Nintendo handheld unless you're very committed.
That's my take on things, if anyone bothered to read it. Hope it can keep some peace between everyone, although I'm not sure that there's a war going on. ;)
-gamefreakfatty