Couldnt agree less that any J/T worth his salt etc... I was a J/T once and never, ever rated myself as equivalent to a Lance Coporal - I just put my feet up and enjoyed the extra money.
As for wearing the stripes. You have authority, and by definition every request you make is an order, irrespective of your phrasing it as such - a point which I had to make on a number of occasions to the occasional airman who worth his salt...etc.
Its nice when people act out of respect, but just in case they don't respect you, its nice to wield the power!!