Sir, Yes, Sir. The Life of EPO Patent Examiners.
As just noted, examiners at the EPO aren't quite permitted to do proper patent examination in line with the law (or the EPC). Their job is awful and can be detrimental to Europe, an 'externality' of sorts. Our pain (and loss) pays the EPO salaries. The examiners are merely "instruments" in the hands of dictators who weren't even fairly elected. It's like Putin sending many young men to the trenches to die for nothing.
If working for the EPO makes it harder to sleep at night, take action. Don't be passive. Make things better. A 'need' for a 6-figure salary is never a valid excuse. █