In six years, I've used them twice, and both times I had time (a minute or two) to look them up first and make sure I was using them correctly. I'd much rather memorize things I'll use constantly (the table names, for example), and things I'll use regularly (string and date functions, for example), than things I'll use twice in six years (DBCC commands). (Of course, I use DBCC commands all the time, but I use them by clicking buttons and right-click menues in management studio, etc., not by typing them out myself.)
As for losing 19 hours of data because of restoring to a last-known-good-point instead of using esoteric database commands to try to fix something, whoever thinks those are the only two options is to stay away from my databases. Far away! Please, go work for my competitors. They need you!
OK, you said it yourself, you used DBCC command 2 times in the last 6 years. Now, another thing, I don't which buttons you are clicking in management studio and how many times you use them, but I for one don't even have to do that "all the time". Why, cause my DB's are designed right. The point is to "minimize" management to begin with.
Second, if your last company went out of "business" it would seem like they could have used someone else than those who worked there.
And By the way, and not you, most BLUE CHIP companies, have some of the "slowest" DB systems even with all the money, expertise, tech, etc. Case in point, Cell Phone companies websites have been incredilble slow, not to mention, always DOWN. Ever go to there store and the person at the counter says, Sorry, you have to come back later, OUR COMPUTER IS DOWN.
Look at the FBI, virtual case file project!!! That is a massive IT project that's a complete and utter failure. It's been in the news and called in Congress and STILL after several revamps, reviews, changes, it's still NOT up. They must have lots of DBA's there that know DBCC and lots of these dumb so-called "db best practices" HA! HA! HA!
When more than 70% of the IT projects there fail, there need to be more communication.....it called communicating the BRUTAL TRUTH!!!