In actuality, we had the unit ready in 3 days (clean out, dry out, paint, carpet, new stove).

The toilet is littered with poop and the sink is all full with some having dried on the vanity door as it leaked from sink.

Yes, but keep in mind that if your mortgage acquisition indebtedness exceeds $1 million and/or you have a HELOC is in excess of $100k, you may be limited in the amount you can deduct. 

This sparked a conversation in the office about how owning a rental property is an excessive burden and there is no money to be made in real estate.

Excess contribution about 2-5%.

It was in the summer and everything was dry, as the water table was very low that summer.

They are not dry or boring reading like a majority of most real estate books out there.

Yes, if the house sells for more than is owed and costs of f/c sale, the owner would be entitled to the excess, but that is more a theory than something that really ever happens in reality (except in very rare cases).  

The tenants made no attempt to help pick their wet belongings up so the company could dry out the carpet.

You may just have to wait for their patience to dry up.