There are "just-plain-awful" engineers in other fields of engineering also. I started my career doing mechanical and electrical design work before gradually switching to programming (and then getting a degree.) Engineers who don't understand gear ratios, tolerances, circuit design, etc.

Maybe a little more in the programming because that is where the money is at right now.

At the same time, disparities in practitioner quality are going to exist in every field, not just software development.