I have a similar, but less impressive background. I receive a few emails per week from recruiters but I know from experience that most are just spam.
Last I tried to find a job when I really needed it (because I took a job that was absolutely hell and was let go after 6 months because I actually tried to do something productive and other people didn't like that), I quickly found out nearly all those emails were just recruiters sending out as many messages as they could to anyone with any kind of development experience... and I would still have to go through multiple interviews, including basic programming assignments which I find so direspectful when you've been doing it for a couple of decades already. Nothing like an experience like that to dissipate the feeling that you're a rockstar and everyone wants to hire you immediately should you just pick up one phone call. The truth is that there are hundreds like you a and while there is definitely a programmer shortage in most parts of the world, companies that are actually worthwhile working for will still filter candidates a lot and may discard you for the smallest shortcoming (like not having 3 years experienc with some niche framework they use). While I was on my comfy job receiving those emails and occasionally answering a few to see what's on the board, it felt like I just needed to say yes to get an offer, which is not exactly how it turned out to be.
I took a look and on linkedin it isn't sure where you are and you haven't listed any technologies. If you put in go-lang, c, Python, linux, Docker, containers that'll make you searchable. If you want remote jobs for US companies say so.
I'll second this. LinkedIn relies on search, and your profile has very little information. I'm hitting 23 years in the industry, with the first 17 of those in small startups, and 2010 was the last time I made the first reach out in a job search. When my profile is listed as "Open to Opportunity" on LinkedIn, I hear from people daily, with about 50% being non-spam and at least remotely relevant to my role and YOE. When the profile is not open, it's one or two a week on average.
I always say "thanks but no thanks" when not interested, but definitely leave it friendly. Recruiters move and I've had a recruiter for a company I wasn't interested in later pop up at a company I was interested in. As I've moved along in my career, recruiters I've worked with to hire at my own company have also moved on and brought me opportunities in their new companies.
