Importance of Marks and Attempts in UG and PG prof. exams: A Dilemma

TL;DR @ the end.

As the age old saying goes, " For Medicos,....exam marks, failure, number of attempts and number of years don't matter".

They say it's the morals, character, experience and skill of a person that make them a good doctor and by being a "Good Doctor" more patients come to them, they're highly sought after by hospitals and so, one tends to prosper.

But I think this applies only for 2nd Gen doctors and so on, who have they're own set ups or can avail influence by the time they pass out.

Let's face it, it's hard to get a post anywhere as a fresh passout.....[someone on this sub, please prove me wrong].

Recently one of my seniors, a 1st gen General Medicine doc, applied for a senior residency interview after finishing 1 year PG bond in our college[the only Govt. Medical college in our state]:

They were a brilliant student, cracked AIPMT in 1st attempt, were amongst the top 20 in their class in all 4 professional exams, got MD Gen Med in 1st attempt NEET PG state quota, was one of the hardest working residents who had very few enemies,

But the only thing is, they somehow fell into the Bad books of a certain associate professor in their 3 yrs of residency , who was also the internal examiner for their finals and got failed [popular story].....they passed eventually.

So in the SR interview, they were prodded on this one fact alone. Later they got placed way back on the candidate Merit list and didn't stand a chance to get a post. Even in one corporate hospital in the state, it seems the panel constantly prodded and poked around that 1 failure and put them in the waiting list. Whereas one of his juniors got a physician post.

They're currently focusing on NEET and INI SS.

Now, Granted that Reservation and a degree of Influence is required, But come on!!! Has it become so competitive and insensitive?? PGs now have to keep hunting for a job?

We're constantly told that marks, rank, age and attempts don't matter, and then stuff like this happens.... its bad enough that PG is hectic af and there's a risk to our lives/wellbeing in this profession.

So one last time, to anyone whose already reached ahead of the curve, Do yall think marks, rank and attempts matter in our profession in this country, in current times??

TL;DR: A brilliant senior of mine couldn't get SR post or post in a corporate hospital due to passing in 2nd attempt in MD Finals.

Has the profession become so competitive and insensitive that a small fiasco along the journey can cost someone job opportunities??

We're constantly told that marks, rank, age and attempts don't matter, and then stuff like this happens.... its bad enough that PG is hectic af and there's a risk to our lives/wellbeing in this profession.

Please provide some insights/experiences/anecdotes/hope for the future.