As a former ref myself (last game was as a touch judge on the Underbank vs Nottingham Outlaws Rugby League Conference National elimination match in 2009) I can relate to quite a few of the points the OP makes.
The amount of times, at either local society level or at RFL level, that you see officials getting matches when they clearly aren't good enough for the level that they are at is appalling. When I passed my match officials course in 2002 it was a 2 day course in Leeds. First day theory, second day practical and exam. That was a good amount of time spent as it meant you could go into more depth about things you weren't clear about. I didn't referee a match until the summer in the local service area games (a completely new ref being thrown in with the best players of the local area and expected to be at that level.)
I refereed youth games, open age, Yorkshire vs Lancashire under 16's and even got to referee in Holland twice (through my own efforts and not the RFL or my society.)
There is genuine talent out there, but for some reason the majority end up either stuck at local amatuer level or leave the game completely. A normal week for me when i was refing was 1 game on a saturday, 3 junior games on a sunday, 1 maybe 2 midweek games and you have to fit training and meetings around that. I had a 14 month spell when i had to referee with a constantly pulled hamstring because they were always short of officals. But i still did it because i loved the game.
When i had to finish as a match official (ankles knackered from crap pitches in amatuer leagues) i emailed the RFL with my reasons of why i was finishing and i was invited to have a chat at Carnegie. So i went up and the chat was basically being told that my attitude stunk and that i never tried hard enough. Anyone who ever saw me referee or at training was always surprised by how much time and effort i put into my fitness and pushing myself to improve all the time. I don't think i was good enough to make it to super league but my attitude was never in question to people who had met me.
So I can totally see where the OP has come from with his great insight into what it was like for him as an official. The majority start because of a love for the game, it's amazing to see how few actually leave with their love of the game intact.

I reffed a match once when at Uni. The official didn't turn up and I was injured and couldn't play for my team but had travelled down to the match to support the lads. Being the away side we were asked by the opposition to supply the ref. I ended up hobbling round the field on my knackered ankle in a borrowed tracksuit and boots having to shout when offences had occurred as I didn't have a whistle. Gave me a lot more respect for the refs but would never ever do it again!

good read. i refereed football at pro and semi pro level and you make the F.A. look like a well run organisation.
we also did the cooper test twice a year but we got two free kits a year and sometimes boots and bags thrown in. also we got a match fee and petrol expenses, usually 30p a mile so you were covered taht way.
you should write a book though, good reading

I think he just did

A great read and rare insight into one of the least known part of our game. You highlight some striking concerns in my opinion, we are in desperate need for more good match officials, with the NRL now able to boast two good standard referees for every game, there's even a call for three!

Yet we're way behind yet again, it seems the RFL do nothing more than pay lip service when and where required, yet have for years sat and gobbled up huge salaries and ignored the most important facets of the game, refereeing be just one on a long list.

People may treat referees as one big joke, but they're a hugely important part of the game, I firmly believe they deserve a much better service from our governing body to ensure these issues are dealt with. I'd add to that, if the RFL's inadequacies are being highlighted worse than what this guy had to deal with at grassroots level from fans and coaches on a weekly basis, then they have some serious issues to work on.

To me its a double edged read. Some of it seems a little whiny. But other parts of it make points that should be taken into account.

Like any account there will be bias from the author. But I can't understand the need to divorce entirely from the game.

I am not what I was as a supporter, but I still dip in and out as a fan. I hardly watch cricket at all anymore but the interest is still there. I am torn between two opinions on this. In the end some of it seems like a moan with good points being made.