Hi Bob,
I'm not sure what the difference is between a "core developer" and a "core programmer" is, but if I look at the people at Moodle HQ and their access to Moodle forums it seems to me they do spend considerable time here.
They don't always make the decisions I'd like them to but that's life, isn't it? I couldn't always get my mother to see things my way, nor my father, nor my boss, nor my husband not even my friends...
Cheers,
Glenys