I'd guess that 90-95% of the people who get their carry permit never carry a weapon after about the first month.
It sounds like a great idea when you sign up for it, but by the time you find a comfortable holster, figure out the issues that may or may not come with it (like retention when you drop your pants in the bathroom, etc.), and get used to wearing it, most people throw in the towel. There is no "one size fits all" holster, and you can easily end up with a couple hundred dollars in gear before you find the right fit. (That said, I'm gonna throw out some props to the guys at Black Arch - their ADM is the best I have found.
https://www.blackarchholsters.com/ )
As far as competency thing goes, that's a tossup. Three people of the 15 in the course I took were asked to leave because they showed up with loaded weapons. Two others were asked to come back for another class because they couldn't follow instructions and didn't bring a cleaning kit, and one more was booted because she couldn't disassemble her weapon.
The people I know personally who carry are pretty much in line with the type Ida mentions - they practice at least monthly, most have taken at least one advanced pistol course post CDW certification, and know their shit.
That said, carrying and having to use the weapon are two different beasts. I had the misfortune of having to pull a weapon in a "crazy person" encounter last year, and all the practice and training I have done were barely enough to keep me calm during the encounter. The appearance of the weapon de-escalated the situation and the crazy person got back in their car and left, but I was pretty much done for the day afterward. My nerves were so shot from the adrenaline rush and the subsequent crash that I could barely function. Not something I recommend, and I have no idea how I would respond in a situation where there was an actual shooter. I don't really want to find out.
