If you look up a few posts or so you'll see I'd addressed your question regarding my rank at the time. I've already stated my disdain for farmed out maintenance in this thread.Were you a WO when you talked to the 1 Cad CWO? That is much different then a CPL talking to the CWO.
The reality is the Airforce is full of self serving upper staff, who cater to Pilots. (they even screw them) will be damned if they let then Techs tell them how to run the show.
The attitude is we will farm out the work if we can't get Techs. Eventually you run out of those people also.
I've found that the senior folks who are interested in an air tech perspective are few and far between. I don't see that changing any time soon.