Yeah, that's an issue I have not just with Deku, but with the manga as a whole: The idea that you can't work as a hero if you don't have superpowers. There are several characters without combat-oriented quirks who managed to fight against villians just fine, like Nighteye and the green-hair lady from the Pussycats. It's really weird that characters like she and Mirio are forced to quit being heroes when they lost their powers even though it's proven that they can still pull a fucking fight.

It's even more of an unintentional criticism of nepotism because he worked hard AFTER being given a handout that guaranteed him greatness AND having the greatest superhero as a mentor.

That applies to all the rich kids who say "But i work hard!".
Yeah sure, but you wouldn't be working hard without a handout.