I totally accept your point about utility drivers, firefighting, long-liners et al
So having agreed about the above, tell me again why you've got you're knickers in a twist?
Fee paying pax - wasn't that what we're talking about? Perhaps you need to read the whole post - not a blanket criticism of utility drivers was it?
I'm sure we've all scraped the treetops while getting paid for some useful flying or other - but if you do it with tourists on board, I'm afraid that makes you a schmuck.
Not overestimating my own importance at all - merely stating my opinion.