I'm glad I decided to refresh the screen before posting, and saw VE1BLL's post (ham call sign?); I can delete my lecture on the meaning of "straw man". It was a vague rhetorical reference, slightly misapplied in this case, and I apologize for the unintended interpretation that it was a description of the person making the argument. (I just committed one of my main gripes about specification writing: "I knew what I meant--why didn't you know what I meant?")
I think VE1BLL's specifics (such as "consciously keeping your confidence level somewhere just below your competence level") are excellent. The generic of "make sure you actually do competent engineering" and the implication that none of us think of such things is what I took issue with.
Regarding choice of clothing, obviously your mileage will vary. From workplace to workplace, and situation to situation. Within any environment there will still be a range, and some people will be on one end and some on the other. I'm not the only T-shirt and sandal wearer here, but I admit we are at the tail end of acceptability (and I still get a hell of a lot more respect than the last several (better-dressed) guys to hold my job). On the other hand, jeans and sneakers are pretty standard in this office (even my boss wears jeans and sneakers unless he has a meeting to go to), and someone wearing a necktie in my position would be looked at very strangely indeed. Someplace else I might be wearing a jacket to work every day to do the same kind of job. It really does depend not just on individual personality but on circumstance.
Okay, I'm bored today but not *that* bored, so I think I'll shut up for a while now.
Hg