My only hope is that maybe somebody who will, in the future, be in a position of power will take some of my arguments into consideration and really make a difference where it counts.

And it doesn't have anything to do with being smart, it's just forcing yourself to take a different perspective. Or being really anal. Or nitpicky. Or obsessive. Unfortunately, I think because of being at least slightly anal (hey now, all pilots are a little!) and.... picking nits, I've forced myself to have a different perspective. I'm not sure that's a positive thing .