Back to the point of the thread - rank used to be an achievement, not something given for collecting cornflake packet tops. Promotion used to be on merit, not for time served. There used to be a selection process, not a case of filling the quota from the few left serving. Good guys used to stay in, only the dross left early.
Do I make my point?
No, go back far enough and rank used to bought. If you were rich you could be an officer.... didn't matter whether you could do it or not.
Am I right in thinking that the right to use rank outside the forces goes back to the fact that you bought, so you can keep it?
Father worked for a Lt Col Rtd who insisted on being addressed as Colonel xxxxxx. This man was a pompous twit and I was a bit of a rebel... not once, ever, did I call him Colonel but was always tempted to call him "Lt Col Rtd"
Father was a very proud man and it sickened me to see him almost salute this idiot. Father was a very young Airman at the end of WWII so I guess the rank thing was instilled then.