To try and keep this on track:
Data cablers have been exempt from formal licensing, as far as I know, because it is assumed that data cabling is not dangerous..... then we have situations like in the picture....
It is less dangerous for many reasons, and situations like already fall under the current code/permit/inspection/enforcement regime. Let's be very clear on that.
Perhaps this is a case of local officials not really doing their job: I don't know.
It isn't. No inspector would view this and ignore it. We both know that.
This is an instance where no inspectors were called or aware, and an instance where having a blanket policy of requiring low voltage techs to be electricians wouldn't have made a whit of difference.
The top observations would be... Improper punchdowns.
It would not. An improper punchdown is not going to test out. It you've got a poor wiremap or open pair, it won't even blink out let alone certify. Any commercial integrator or tech service will test every line they install.
Don't be confused with open pairs over time. This happens absolutely as the jack is were the user interface is (and any movement to the permanent link). But yeah. Commercial installers executing installations without testing isn't happening with "frequency" and in fact you'd be hard pressed to find any at all. It simply is not cost effective to perform an installation and just blindly walk away from the job without so much as checking a wiremap. To think otherwise belies a complete and utter lack of even a passing familiarity with the commercial component of this industry. A breathtaking lack of familiarity.
I would not say that it's worthless; however, one man's experience is not necessarily representative of an entire industry.
In this case, I'd say this definitely applies in your case if you're throwing out the following example of "frequent" installation problems:
Crimped-on-ends with too much insulation removed, or randomized wiring sequences that split D+ and D- across different pairs.
These termination types do not come into play in the vast majority of commercial low voltage installations (including the example in the picture above). If you've got a 1,000 drop job, you are likely not stripping anything back (save potentially a handful of BAS drops). Like, not on one single cable.