Don't feel too bad. One counterpoint to this is that most companies I've worked at will require even highly recommended employees to go through the same interview process as everyone else, primarily for fairness and diversity reasons.

Getting a recommendation may "put you to the front of the line", and may allow you to skip a basic screening call, but honestly I think most well run organizations won't skip the interview process even if it's a well-known "superstar" - they would instead just change some of the interviews to let that superstar demonstrate their in-depth expertise in their niche.

It goes away at year 15 or so if you have a good reputation.

I resigned my previous role out of sheer boredom and a desire to work on something new and have been flooded with no/fit-only interview offers, not that i'm going to follow up on them.

Same! In case others feel bad reading this, I’m in the same boat. Every place I’ve worked has a multi step interview process and as far as I know referrals don’t get to skip it.

Maybe it’s different types of work (consulting?) or companies (earlier stage startups?).

I don’t think I’m particularly good or bad at networking but fully expect to have to do coding interviews and/or take homes. Or maybe I really do need to get a stronger network!

Likewise. I do envy the GP. Currently looking for work, and this has not been my experience.

Same boat but a bit worse: 15 years and a "network" that consists of two people from my very first job as a developer. It is a bit rough knowing that I am so intrinsically bad at networking.

Same here at 20 years. It definitely seems to be one of those things that's not universal to all Senior devs.