As someone who's just starting to learn kubernetes (but has a strong background in virtualization and multi-thousand-node environments), I was inclined to agree at first but now see it as more of a modern "home lab" type person. I don't see it as doing it to be a fake-Googler, but more to learn the scalable way of doing things.

Or, as worst, the shortcut to understanding the underlying tech. But, isn't that the point of abstraction?