While I absolutely understand the entirety of this post, and I understand why large organizations have such ladders I want to emphasize that you don't have necessarily to aim for this vertical climbing.

It is absolutely fine to make good money and limit your responsibilities.

It is also fine to work in smaller organizations and unknown companies where you enjoy the work and there would make no sense to have more labels and roles than personnel.

There's more to life than money. I'm a freelancer/independent consultant, and as such I'm never considered for anything but senior or tech lead roles and...it's fine.

I make more money than I spend (I have the same lifestyle I had when I was making 2500€s per month), but I can optimize for choosing projects and things that I care for.

That's not really doable when you aim to climb the ladder, you need to "play" the game and you don't get to set it.

I'm free from those political shenanigans.

I also know plenty of senior devs that enjoy simply being senior devs and renouncing more responsibilities.

Eventually, for the same peter principle organizations too should not necessarily aim to push everybody to grow (albeit I understand in big tech managers do have incentives into growing and promoting people).

There's many elements of freedom in forgoing this ladder climbing and everybody should set their own priorities and goals regardless of what the industry and society says. It's liberating.