>>An _editor_ (not _writer_) has to be intelligent about the field, of course, but amazingly, they do not have to be professionals in it.
>>
>
>An editor maybe, but definitely not a Tech Editor. They need to have a clue...

What about "An _editor_ (not _writer_) has to be intelligent about the field" is in opposition to that point?

FWIW, you might want to check something out about the profession of technical writing.