Yes, photography is one of my hobbies; but I still want to be as good at it as I can given the amount of work I can put into it.
From my perspective, your problem is probably that you've been trying to copy top photographers, rather than putting the effort into trying to understand why their images work instead. As to books - well, it depends what you read. Most of the titles that I've seen recommended on amateur forums I wouldn't give houseroom to, because at bottom they are providing images to copy not principles to follow. They simply don't train you to think, which is what is really needed. Magazines - well, I can only think of a couple of articles I've read in the last 20-30 years that actually provided the sort of information you need to develop. Perhaps age has dulled my memory.
Natural talent - I think it's more natural interest. Just as liking garlic is natural to some. Probably because they have been exposed to it from an early age. The same as with many food likes and dislikes. But people who disliked something have come to like it, because for some reason or another they ate it until they came to appreciate it. I think the photographic eye is the same. If you haven't been exposed to the appropriate influences, it probably won't have developed. If you have no interest, you won't try very hard and it won't develop. If you think that you either have it or you haven't, then after the first failed attempt (or two) you'll conclude that you haven't got it, and attempt (if you do attempt anything) to rise to a level of mediocrity. But if you believe that you can be taught or shown how to really see, then perhaps you'll go on looking until you find someone or some book that can show you how to do it.
Problem solving may come easier to some than to others; but techniques can still be taught; approaches that are likely to lead to success. Photography is no different in this respect.
In summary (of the whole thread): I believe that different people have different abilities, and some will always be able to outstrip others if they all put in the same directed effort. But everyone can - until they reach that level - continue to improve, and be taught how to do so. We all have the same natural talent that we can develop.