...., it doesn't help one figure out where to move their career.

I agree with you. I.T. Pros OFTEN communicate much better than they're given credit for. They are almost always precise, and give the non-IT person the facts in a way that reasonably intelligent people should be able to handle it.

Two problems:

1. Reasonable intelligence.
2. (Most prevalent) Non-tech doesn't want to make a decision. He/she wants 2 + 2 to equal 5. So accusing the tech of "not knowing how to communicate" is a way to shift blame.

Sure, some can't work with people, but far fewer than is often assumed.