BEagle,
I'm not entirely sure what your point is aside from the fact that, if you're not happy, get out. It has ever been thus.
A rewarding career is not necessarily related to a diversity of flying tasks (although this helps) and it certainly does not require involvement in Operations in support of Uncle Sam.
At all levels it relies on an individual's belief in what he or she is doing is worthwhile. That applies to anybody, military or civilian, in all walks of life. We all have stories to recount of 'better' times but they are somewhat irrelevant. Indeed, there was always somebody during those better times that would get on their soap box and declare that everything was sh*t and recount their own story of better times. Unfortunately their voice was (and still is) often the loudest.
It's nice that this forum provides an opportunity for the serial whiners to air their grievances. I only wish that those more positive (I know you're out there!) would post more often.
LM