That's a funny way of spelling "realistic".

These companies want The Right Stuff, and it's easy to tell if you yourself aren't it.

These companies have hired 10s of thousands of engineers just like you.

And yes, exactly, it's easy to tell yourself you aren't the right stuff and thus never try. That's defeatism, not realism.

i assume you don't actually know anyone at FAANG. There are plenty, believe me plenty, of average people. Of course there are superstars, and superstars gravitate there for the high pay as well as the chance to work with and learn from other superstars. but when you employ this many people, you also bring along many, many average joes.