I think there is a difference between a healthy respect and fear. I know one or two controllers who when they first meet people and are asked "Oh, isn't that really stressful?" and launch into a "Oh yeah, it's stressful but that's what were trained for, you know this one time I had a blah, blah, blah.......". Conversley, some of the best controllers I've worked with know their stuff and aim to provide the best service they can, respect what is going on on the driver's side of things and for the other controllers around them. And have a bloody good time doing it.