I am on the outside looking in, but its really no different to my field (systems admin) in IT. No one grows up dreaming of being a tape operator - loading and unloading tapes, and watching alert screens all day. But its the first step on the ladder - once there you get exposed to what goes on and learn the ropes. Good operators learn all they can and move up to junior admins, and from there you go up with experience and training. The big difference is in most IT shops you get paid for training - courses, certification etc. It is in the companies interest for you to be skilled up even if it means you are now capable of moving elsewhere.
I think you are always going to have people upwardly aspiring - perhaps it would be better if companies were willing/able to take on people in a junior role under supervision to build up to something with known progression, rather than it being a snakes and ladders game of jumping at the next offering.