Not so sure that you're in the minority, Kevin, as I've come across many (on this forum, in the main) who seem to agree with what you're saying.
I have also come across a fair number of techs (working in the NHS, it has to be said) who seemed to take great delight in taking days off from the "real work" to attend (what I regarded as nebulous) "courses" such as "Diversity", "Gender Awareness" and so forth. So no doubt their CPD Portfolios were positively glowing (not to mention, over-flowing).
Needless to say I was always too busy doing the "real work" to attend such diversions, myself.
However, I can see the need for CPD - especially for younger folk progressing through our Trade* - just as long as the process is properly managed (regulated, whatever).
After all, many moons ago when I was just a small cog in a Large Organisation myself, we all had to (attempt to) re-qualify on certain skills every year. Depending upon how important the activity was to their assigned role, sometimes those who failed would suffer financial penalty, miss a promotion, or some such downer. Perhaps that sort of thing is what is really needed to keep folk on their toes!
Meanwhile, and unfortunately, I doubt that "my best faults" would hold much sway with the Gods of CPD, because, as far as I can tell, CPD sessions appear to count only when activities are, shall we say,
peripheral to the tech's everyday role.
*
Not profession? Just to wind-up the Usual Suspects, really.
