I think you've nailed it
The correlation between a large metro area and a tech staffing glut. Here in Champaign the comapanies are all smaller and the whole town is much more of an education based economy. Lots of companies started by ex-U of I-ers (Spyglass anyone?) with a true weirdness in staffing. Tons of students able to work short hours during the school year. But getting people with experience who are willing to live here year-round is another story.
"When it crosses my mind to do something, I don't ask why, I ask why not. And usually there's no reason not to, so I just go ahead. It's given me the strangest collection of hats"