I think what jlukanta is saying is that the greatest people get the salaries they demand regardless of location. If you're insulted by the suggestion that you might not be in that top category, maybe you're letting your ego respond instead of thinking about it rationally.
The idea that not being "great" is insulting is more toxic than assuming someone isn't great. Lots of hero worship in this industry that fucks with people's egos - your statement being a prime example.
He directly insulted me, clarify how in your thinking, this has anything to do with hero worship? Stating your views without falling back on the needless application of profanity is something I'd appreciate.
I'm pretty his/her intention was not to insult you. Since you won't even consider the possibility that you're not a great engineer, perhaps you're just bad at finding decent jobs and contracts? Or you're bad at negotiating pay? I'm honestly a little confused because my impression is that contractors and consultants make more money than full-time employees.
If you understand great as considerably better than average, then you probably aren't great. I'm not. Almost no one is, although almost everyone thinks they beat the curve.
If you understand great to mean merely competent, then I think you're abusing the meaning of "great".
You offered yourself as the example. You don't have a lot of room for complaint when people look at the example you provided.
If it helps you unbunch your undies on this topic, consider that "great" in the original meaning was something like "world class". There's no shame in not being one of the top people in the world.
