For example, my company says they don't compare people except for the highest rating. So you have to meet the "standards" (which are poorly defined btw). I know departments in the company where if you gave someone the highest rating, then you have to "pick" someone for a low rating even if they don't deserve it. There are many other examples of them breaking their own official policies with backroom policies that screw people over.

A tech LLC won't help. The area is terrible for tech work and my expertise was in stuff that's irrelevant.