The threads that she "wastes" her time on are technical threads, and even if she is answering peoples' questions she is still polishing her skills, so it is benefiting her company by futhering her skills.

I agree, and I've made that argument, that surely she's been able to leverage some of what she's experienced online into her job. So yes, it's not like she's posting on some silly non-work-related forum (yeah, like Iowa football...or alt.binaries.pictures.meadowsoprano, etc.)