Good pilots can make a trip much more enjoyable, too. I'm not asking for "parity" with a commercial pilot's job...it's not my job. But I'm not out of line for expecting a "parity" of respect. The longer you seek to belittle FA's for wanting/expecting respect for the job THEY do, the more you distance yourself as one of those "good pilots."
Frankly, sir, you're on the wrong side of this issue.
You're in the wrong industry if you want respect. Thats true for pilots too.