I agree, which is why Ive designed my own set of qualifications for a web developer to be considered senior, and they have integrity and can be reduced to scalar values if needed. Thousands of interviews have proven these qualifications to be successful at sourcing candidates that are true seniors and those that are not.

Most businesses dont need to care since they can find successful outcomes either way. That doesnt mean that qualifications (which can be turned into certifications just by having a recognizable name attached to one's firm) do not exist, that just means software is truly soft in that the consequences of being under-qualified are not at all as drastic as the consequences of being under-qualified to fix powerlines or design a nuclear reactor.