I think we're crossing signals WRT I'm talking about engineers shopping like the guy using a parametric search and examining some data sheets to find the correct resistor for a circuit, vs you're thinking I'm talking about engineer as a proxy name for well paid individual, which is admittedly usually true. There is a moderately high minimum required cognitive level to successfully use search interfaces and study what the component data sheets say, and do not say, about a device, vs the requirements of the design, combined with a bit of buyer beware ("hey, it says right here on page 7 of the engineering data sheet that this little surface mount resistors maximum voltage rating is 200 volts so using it as a bleeder resistor in a switching power supply is kinda all your fault...")
I think you’re assuming that the cognitive requirements for being an engineer are somehow higher than what most people can meet. I don’t think that’s true, and it seems like an extraordinary claim to make.
