Techman for some of us who had our licences in the 60's (with the ARB) the rant is about how we had to jump through hoops to get the licence and then see others come into the system by collecting box tops.
Most of us are not as you put it it ranting about how good we are but about the fact that anybody can do the same function ( ie sign off!) with less effort.
Most of us had to do many licence exams to get the same cover that today they do with a couple.
If you do not believe that the standards are lowered then I suggest you try an ARB LAE exam ( Not multi guess!)
I would say in mitigation that the aircraft have become far more self testing and forgiving.
You have training courses which were not available 40 years ago
Plus you have CD manuals instead of the ex USAAF manuals we had on DC3 ! and of course all regs on Internet.
Have you ever filed a set of FAA AD paper Bi-Weeklys?
From your post you were obviously of the WTR brigade ( or is it just Approval !)