Posting positions that are already filled

In my company, there are relatively few positions that are a good match for my skills and experience. What I’ve found is that when the rare job is posted internally, it has generally already been promised to someone and is listed only to fulfill a company requirement.

I find this practice demeaning, especially since I don’t even get the courtesy of an interview and I am generally equally or better qualified than the selected candidates. Also, my company professes to give its people career opportunities, but the positions will as likely go to internal as external candidates.

Have many other people experienced this?