First, if the WWE thought they were so packed with very popular talent who knows how to work every bit they can out of a match, then they wouldn't be rehiring all those "good hands" to help develop the in ring talent they currently have. The WWE is in a transition period where they've lost a generation of guys that knew how to work due to age, injury, etc. They have a lot of young guys, athletic and talented, but many are still learning some of the little things needed to get to that next step. I don't think it's purely about any "trigger" so much as the guys that are making the decisions are looking for certain things in their development so they can make the most of a high pressure spot with huge expectations. They have guys with potential, but they don't necessarily have a lot of guys with experience in doing what it is the WWE and that audience wants from them.
And who is "everybody" with regards to stealing spots? I didn't see either Undertaker or Rock being booed out of the building by that massive audience who were supposedly incensed at spots being stolen. Maybe Punk made some noise about it in interviews. And maybe Punk was working all the marks out there and fueling what he hoped would be a main event WM match for the next year. Is it like Hogan and McMahon having a WM match and stealing someone's spot? Seemed like it was one of the more entertaining matches of the night. How about when Bret Hart came back to work a match with Vince? Stolen spot again? Seemed like fans were clamoring for years to have Bret come back for one last curtain call with the WWE. He did it, so I guess he was stealing a spot too.
Whether Undertaker / HHH is overrated, I don't know. That's the nature of wrestling. They promote the hell out of everything bigger and better than what it really is. They want to sell the idea that this is the best thing ever for the simple reason that they are selling a product. But it still told a story. There was psychology behind it. Heaven for bid you have "rest spots" to pace a match or anything. Better yet, I think I'll take the more informed opinion of the general internet crowd that figures slapping "IWC" on as their moniker adds clout over say a wrestler who knew how to work and teaches this stuff, such as Lance Storm, who thought Triple H and Taker from 2 years ago was one of the matches of the night.
But what the heck, it's the internet. Trollolololololol away!