So factor out a huge part of the job market?

SV startups are a small percentage of the overall tech world. Legions of programmers are hired in traditional companies in finance, energy, tech, aerospace... And on and on and on.

And in most of those organizations, titles are common.

Moreover, regional cultural differences greatly affect the value of a title. A person in California or Colorado often sees titles differently than someone in New York or Boston. And many cultures outside the US often view titles as extremely important as an outward measure of success.