the phrase "make it into management" pre-supposes that their goal is to do so.

Not really. It just means that they don't end up there. It's like saying "that rain doesn't look like it will make it to my town" -- the rain has no goals. FWIW, I agree that part of the reason that "geeky" people don't make it into management is that many of them find it undesirable; they hyper-focus of which I speak is part of the reason for that as well.

No value judgements, just an observation.