It's marketing.

"Engineer" shouldn't be a protected designation. It depends on the state: see this vice article on a licensing board getting shot down[0].

Professionals want to give themselves the most serious and qualified-sounding names they can.

Unfortunately, this article appears to be another in a long line of longform trolling designed to stimulate emotional response and drive clicks without any real substance..

[0]https://www.vice.com/en/article/yw798m/oregon-unconstitution...