Chiglet - I can also look back at my first 15 years with CAA/NATS, and despite the two-tier system (and I concur with DC10 - it does exist!) I think 'yep - that was the dog's sphericals'. If it had remained like that then I would never have left. But times change, people change, Companies change, technology changes, and not always all for the better.
I would venture to say that, as ATSAs, you, me, DC10 and a host of others who did 20 years or more and have recently left the arena - we probably saw the best of it. 
Rocket Science - PM for you.