Wow. This is a most interesting topic to me. Thank you, enslaved1, for bringing up this issue in which I have so much NOT invested.
What I mean by that is simply this -- there are far too many trained, qualified, and exceptional musicians who are ignored or otherwise cast out of the "acceptable" crowd. The "acceptable" crowd is far too many to name, and I won't even attempt to go there.
But to bring it back home and to make it more personal, I have been a performing musician for some 54 years now. I haven't been always on the top of the Billboard charts (lol). But I am trained, I am capable, and I have at least some of the required skills needed to arrive at what many call "success."
Why didn't it happen? For me, it didn't happen because I realized I would be pissing in the wind. It's a nice exercise, but one tends to get wet.
But back to technology, which is where this issue is, I think.
Technology in the music business tends to hide and even obfuscate knowledge. After all, none of the Beatles could even read music. Or write it. That's correct. Even Paul McCartney, to this day, cannot write a note. He's clueless. Buddy Rich, the world's greatest drummer (just ask his ghost, as he died in 1986), couldn't read a note. Or compose anything. When it came time to record a chart, he hired a guy to come in and read it with his band. He was able to memorize the tempo, style, and kicks. And then perform it day after day, night after night. His drive, his knowledge, his experience, and his balls kept him going until the day he died.
Where is the talent there? I'll leave you to answer that.