You don't need a CS degree or a double-E to be a good software developer. You do need training and experience, and I would be more than happy to introduce you to dozens of people who had more experience, better qualifications, and a much better understanding of the business than the H-1B that replaced them. Unfortunately they didn't have that fourth qualification which overrode all others, a considerably lower salary. So they had to go.
I've hired several software developers for my company for different projects. I got burned the first time with a young fresh out of school developer. Now I don't even speak to you unless you've been in the field for a minimum of 8 years.
There is no substitute for experience. Time is money, and I don't have time to develop programmer skills for the new kid. Good companies will bring their people up slow and not give them too much room to screw up.