If you had done the same or even spent more than a few days on just an 18th edition course instead of the few years everyone else does then maybe you would understand
If titles do not matter to you then why do you call yourself a qualified electrician when you are just a mate?
Whilst I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment, the JIB gold card tells you very little about the man's capabilities.
The majority of Gold card holders are on big sites, following designs and drawings, doing a very specific aspect of the trade day in day out. The vast majority of of the skills and knowledge for these specialities are gained on site and these specialists will forget 95% of the detail contained in their formal education.
An entry card that focuses so intensely on formal qualifications is not fit for purpose.
The JIB is anachronistic and the Gold card an anachronism. It harks back to Unionised closed shops where being part of the club was more important than capability.
They are barriers to entry, not conduits.
Disclosue; I don't have one, came through the short course route, got a labourers card some time ago.
I understand people being very protective of the Gold Card, having jumped through all the hoops, I'd probably be the same, and it's also very self affirming.
But.. the Gold Card doesn't make your the Electrician you are.