The reason we have what you call sneer of as "gatekeeping" in trades where people can get hurt, is because competence saves lives.
Do you also think passenger air transport has too much gatekeeping in who flies planes ?
Brain surgery ?
Running an oil refinery or nuclear reactor ?
Every country has "gatekeeping" on who can drive a motor vehicle on public roads.
And yes, the IT industry BADLY need more "gatekeeping".