you're the one providing evidence confirming my assumptions, but i agree, it's best for you to embrace reality and stop living in a fantasy land
Then you shouldn't assume. But go ahead if it make you feel better, cause you need to feel better.
The weirdest thing about this conversation is that based on you interviewing people and not being in HR the best case scenario for you is that you're some lower management/supervisor.
That's arguably best case too lol.
Tell me son, how much do you make a year? I guarantee you that I make at least twice as much as you do. How's that for being an HR peon?