The X and Y (Why?) Generations have a different way of working that Type A personalities don't seem to understand.
I am one of those people who gets in somewhere between 8:00 am and 9:30 am. I need the flex time because of traffic and dropping my kids off at school.
At the same time, I'll work at home (unpaid) after the wife & kids go to bed. I rarely work just 40 hours.
The IT manager/writer in this case is not someone I would ever want to work for. If I am consistently working more than 40 hours, and doing amazing work, then you should give me some flexibility on the arrival time - expecially if it is less than 1/2 and hour.
His attitude toward those who came in early also confirm is suspicious nature. He doesn't trust his employees. Again, not someone I would want to work for. With people who have trust issues like that you are almost always guilty until proven innocent, and even then you are still guilty, you just got away with it. I work in a situation similar like that right now.
I live almost an hour from the office, and I have an office in my house (away from the rest of the house), but my manager does not allow/believe in telecommuting - unless it's her doing the telecommuting. The truth is, she doesn't trust anyone else - possibly because she doesn't actually work when she is "working from home."
Anyway, I digress.
The writer here is a control freak, and needs to relax. Maybe try one less espresso in the morning or doing Tai Chi.
Seriously, if you want to have the best talent, you need to have some flexibility.