BB,
What you say is so true, but compared to the USAF the RAF has never truly valued its technicians.
Take a look at the Wiki page comparing NATO ranks.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ranks_...ATO_air_forces
See how many ranks the RAF manages to compress into OR2!
In the USAF the technical skills of the RAF SAC Technical gets you into the Sgts Mess, in the RAF he isn't even in the Cpl's Club!