I'm sorry, I'm not falling for your self righteous indignation (as prosically worded as it is)
Yes, I hold cap badges, medals, qualification badges, collar dogs, buttons, buckles, belts, keepers, and stitches to be trinkets. I guess I foolishly expect my deportment to indicate my levels of dedication and professionalism; I don't need to wear my UER on my uniform to feel like a soldier and I don't require a prettily decorated uniform for others to treat me as same.
I do, however, consider professionalism, dedication, and esprit de corps in very high regard. I hold the ability to lead by example and not with a volley of paperwork in very high regard. I hold the ability to perform any task set before the individual without whining on the Internet about how it was a crime against his very being because he already did something pretty close to it before in very high regard. I hold the willingness to perform a duty that is good enough for everyone else as though it's good enough for the person who's too good for it in very high regard.
While I'd love to let your red herring fade away, I suspect you're like a terrier with someone else's bone. Honours have a time and place and are of an important cultural and symbolic nature to the CF. Do I hold them in as high regard as most? I suspect not as I'm willing to forego them in the name of getting a ******* job done quickly and without whining. If you think long and hard about this, you'll realize that we in the army suspend several practices for convenience, operational requirements, or both. If not wearing one's medals or a cap badge is a make-or-break moment in an individual's career, there's a bigger problem.
Now, to forego any further indignation on your behalf, I'll address a point you should have already formed. Since I seem to hold medals in such low esteem, given the opportunity to endorse a deserving individual awards for conspicuous behaviour in the face of the adversity, would I?