I personally don't think smudge was out of order in what he said. I'm guessing his response was aimed at the following quote from your post......
"I am also willing to be a 'spanner monkey' for any licensed engineers at those locations with a view of having my Log Book signed off as required."
It kind of implies that you are expecting to wander round in a shirt and tie just pushing buttons and doing all the nice clean easy jobs, but if you have to do the crap just to get signatures then you will do it, but not when you have your license. From my very limited experienece of working with guys still in the forces on military a/c there were 1 or 2 who thought themselves above getting stuck in. (not saying your one but there are some)
Things have changed now and as a license engineer I still am a spanner monkey but for myself. Even in a hangar environment the licensed engineer has to be productive rather than just sit drinking tea until a "spanner monkey" has taken a panel off etc etc etc.