Just a couple of points and questions from reading the replies, as I previously noted I very rarely fly commercially so this is just genuine interest.
On the mind reading thing, if CC would like call bells to be used as more of an emergency button than service button, do they have the authority to include it in the passenger brief, or is that specified by the airline. As a GA pilot I can obviously brief my passengers how I like, in the interests of safety and comfort I always cover the basics, but I have discretion to add things to the brief as I feel necessary - do commercial crews have that liberty?
I guess i'm thinking that when I have used call bells cabin crew never came running as if it was an emergency, nor mentioned that it would be appreciated if I came to the galley instead (I personally thought the galley was off-limits unless crew). I'm a pretty easy going person, and don't mind abiding reasonable requests from people to make their life easier.
I don't want to to open the can of worms that 'we pay your wages' as I, like you, feel it's very derogatory, but unless flying an el-cheapo airline where you save on $ because of the lack of service, some level of service is expected, what do you guys n gals who work as CC see that level of service to be for cattle class?
And finally, things seem to differ drastically between flights, let alone airlines, for example some Qantas flights I have been on had free beer/wine and purchased spirits, others you paid for the lot, is this common, as to my memory the flights were of similar cost and duration yet the service differed quite drastically.