Only about 50% true. At least from 20 year aged experience that is.
FFG's were Jimmy Carter budget cuts productions. So lot's of mis-engineered stuff like SSDG's, XO's pway bulkhead cracks, rudder seal leaks etc.. (Ever been a JO 15 feet into an 18" tall void next to a leaking rudder seal with an E-4 holding crazy glue yelling "I'll f____n fix it?)
In the end we also frequented countries and ports that would RARELY be visited by any other type of ship. Experiences in those countries were sometimes quite noteworthy. So the post above is roughly 50% correct. In fact SWO PQS sign offs can be had in a very timely manner due to it's diverse and often aggressive (abusive) optempo. So is the glass half empty? Yes- sometimes.
Your CO/XO combo has more to do with your SWO experience than any other mitigating factor. They can make it or break it. Believe it!