nobody's complained before
That's the sort of thing that dog owners say ... when Fido has just sunk his teeth into your arse!

But, seeing that you mentioned "reality" there, Bill (and at the risk of straying off topic even further) ... here's another version of it:- the private sector is not interested in "experience" (especially, if like me, you are deemed to be "yesterday's man") ... neither, it would seem, are they much interested in "talent" either.
They just want you to get on with the work they actually pay (and want) you to do. They couldn't care less about any precious egos (or, for that matter, stories about the Good Old Days). If you're lucky, you'll get paid a reasonable, but not lavish, reward.
What they want are young, malleable, people. If you have done "all the courses" then that's great (as you are unlikely to get any training from them). And if you venture out onto the agency circuit, say ... then you'll most likely be in competition with immigrants. It wasn't the present lot (government, so-called) that set
that situation in train, I might add. It might be [censored], but that's the view from where I'm standing.

So there you have it. As you say, realise where your bread is buttered, crack on with what needs to be done ... and (dare I say) quit moaning!