[JohnFen]

> No it's not, not if you want to want to claim to be a true professional.

I disagree, although I suspect that I don't know what you mean by "true professional".

> Look at the very best in the industry, just think of them, name em.

Sure, but you don't have to be the very best in the industry to be a legit professional. By definition, the overwhelming majority of highly skilled engineers are not the very best in the industry.