CTL – your anecdotal reflections are interesting but not persuasive.
People with BTL’s have attended elite schools, your adjunctcy notwithstanding. Further, the continued abundance of older attorneys is not fully reflective of biglaw’s need for young, bright, industrious, and trainable associates. There is a shortage of junior associates in many large firms these days. Firms are also more reluctant to hire straight out of school.
Your experiences are fascinating, and I’d love to talk about them over a cup of coffee but I’d refrain from making decisions based on only your observations.