A lot of people invested considerable effort into obtaining knowledge.
Once obtained, they were free to coast. I take it there's no true continuing ed requirement to maintain a license?
Now, protocol / technical change threatens to render all their existing knowledge outdated. And furthermore, require additional effort.
Unsurprisingly, they're resistant. Said without malice, because that's just human nature.
Continuing ed requirements are usually a gimmick or BS, but in this case it seems like they might be healthy for the hobby. Demonstrating growth / trying new things? A nice process to gently nudge those not still actively learning back into the lower classes.
So unless there's a mechanism to blunt that (and select for lifelong learners), you end up with a tyranny of outdated architects, opposed to any and all changes.
Why would you gatekeep on something that is mostly a hobby and for volunteers. Putting a continuing ed requirement on that is just going to piss off people. People who build these networks are mostly volunteers and they put a lot of effort into this. I think there should be a bit of respect given for that.