@Kaarme i suppose that's one way to view it, though yea i think most of the time it's simply being used as an obstacle for the protagonist to overcome rather than a criticism toward social norms and the idea that you should just accept your position rather than strive to improve. (i will admit that'd be something interesting to read though, maybe i should take a crack at web comics or web novels XD) i have a strange fondness for series about healers though, i agree it's weird how readily they're dismissed in the story, but i then remember the love hate relationship healers are subject to in mmorpgs. (the healer is always fantastic right up until something goes wrong, then it's the healer's fault. even when it's not)
that is a trend i noticed. i find i like stories where the mc is uber weak and circumvents this because of street smarts, guile, technique and so on more and more, though there is something refreshing about an MC that just beat sticks his way through things and the point of tension stems from other things (looking at you one punch)