Is it impossible to get valuable critique on such a forum?

I take a look at your profiles and I see ZERO photo and ZERO challenge. Before you criticize others for being gear-heads, take a closer look at the mirror.

Trust me, had you enter a CHALLENGE or two, you won't be making this kind of snobbery comments.

You think your photo is comparable? Prove it then by winning a challenge or two.  Trust me, its DPR challenge is a humbling experience.  It take skills to placed anywhere near top 20.