Technologically Aware or Technically Competent

I've been pondering this issue for well about an year or two now.Not actively of course,but every once in a while someone says something that gets me on the topic again.What is better-To be technologically aware or to be Technically competent.

The dichotomy of course does not work all the time and in quite a few people we see the coming together of both these things.But more often,we find that a person who is more competent technically(e.g great in academics...) is technologically unaware or worse still, indifferent.I know plenty of good C programmers who know next to nothing about what is going on in the world of technology,what the new avenues are and so on.On the other hand,my circle of acquaintances also abounds with those cant tell their structs from their classes but know the computer inside out and are generally very well informed about technical stuff.Don't need to look very far,the BH abounds with them.

And I just cant stop wondering which is better:To know how to code at the expense of awareness(In which case you don't know what to do with your expertise) or to be aware(in which there isn't much you can with that info).

Another thing I find interesting is that those who are aware come across as more cocky and confident as against the competent ones,who seem to be much more cautious about what they know and are forever willing to acknowledge the awrae one as their better.

The thing is-Coding skils can be acquired later on when you are actually into the worksphere whereas awareness cant.But at this stage of our careers,it seems obvious to me that competence is more relevant.

The dilemma remains...