how did the most skilled pilots become snowflakes?  

Constantly seeing comments about how superior they believe they are. There was a guy down here talking about his "arena" and there not being anyone to replace him. The "Man in the Arena" speech by Theodore Roosevelt was clearly being referenced.

You are not a special snowflake. You risk your azz more than anyone else in the industry in any kind of utility gig, this is irrefutable. But you are not a special snowflake. People wonder what is wrong with this society/country and guess what it starts with it's MEN. You're a helicopter pilot that chose the road, nothing more nothing less.