[alanstorm]

You were over qualified for the position.

They didn't want a programmer, they wanted someone with known Drupal experience, who could hit the ground running, and wouldn't fall back on writing new software to solve a problem that could be quickly (if not perfectly) solved in Drupal. PHP based content management systems job are only tangentially related to programming. Drupal (and Joomla, etc.) exist so that companies can manage their websites without a programmer.

That may not be fair, but it's how the hiring companies (direct or recruit) will look at. If you want those jobs get a Drupal site or two under your belt, and downplay your 10+ years of PHP on your resume and during the interview conversation.