JohnnyPharm: Re. "whereas mid 30's guys probably do have the cash of their own to spare" I would also add that the given guy/gal is single or has a partner in the same industry and no kids.
Otherwise I cannot see how thay can honestly say that they have a happy family life when one of them is mostly away all the time and when they are home, rushes around trying to make up for lost time with partner/kids etc.
Re. "...If the interviewer was a mature self improver when he qualified, he may favour the mature self improver."
I can see this as a likely scenario.