you are right, it was not a perfect analogy.
I am dissapointed on the position of the USPA Board concerning this topic. While S&TA and CD too (I believe) are APPOINTMENTS, the I/E is a RATING.
It is earned,not given.
The times have changed, and with multiple instructional disaplines, so must the ratings change to keep up.
Personally, I worked hard for years to become an I/E, by comparison, my Tandem rating took a day, and my AFF rating a week.
I think the real problem is there is nobody left around that is smart enough to make a new test!