Young people being more intelligent - for the most part could be left to really think about. What makes younger people seem smarter in the first place? Is it because your expectations were set too low and the younger generations have exceeded them? Or is it because they've had better teachers, more resources, and higher levels of education being learned as the world advances? As for a young person's intelligence compared to the older generations - younger people are more stubborn when it comes to what an older generation tells them. I mean, I've always been skeptical of Mom's "hard lessons learned" lectures until one smacks me in the face. Then I hear her voice screaming, "Krista, I told you so."
There are two types of intelligence really, "educational" and "common sense" (maturity). Educationally young people are probably exceeding your expectations only because the younger generations are still living in their educational parts of their lives. Where they're still being taught in some school. The common sense is where you're probably being surprised. Maybe GA's younger generations that you've witnessed have had some difficult lessons to learn and some circumstances to adapt to. What you're seeing is the maturity from having to make a difficult decision or accept something larger than what they were at the time.
Now, don't think it doesn't happen both ways. When I talk and listen to someone much older than me I can appreciate their intelligence as well. Neither generation is better than the other.
So then, 1-10, I would give Knowledge a 7 over past experiences. Only because Knowledge can keep you from learning a hard lesson. So I think it is slightly more important.
Krista