I could try and run a marathon but I'm very out of shape. One of my friends can try and run a marathon who isn't out of shape and while they won't win they can still do it and learn from the experiance. The goal isn't to win, it's to learn in this case.
That is, your friends' awe of the compiler is not only justified given their skill level, it's also likely justified at your skill level as well (although as I don't know you personally, I can't say for sure).
But this is different from having no conception of how compilers work and how one might implement one. As complex as modern compilers are, the foundational principles still apply to them, and an understanding of these principles makes them much less awe-inspiring. I think that having a clear view of the big picture, rather than having certain areas of the picture blocked off entirely as magical black boxes, allows for better engineering choices.