Virologists exist to write research papers, collect titles and positions, and associated remuneration
Virologists that provide direct patient care as doctors exist to diagnose and treat people suffering from viral diseases. Virologists that perform research exist to advance the understanding, prevention, and treatment of viral diseases. Many virologists devote their lives to both patient care and research. They do so to save lives and alleviate human suffering from infectious diseases. Given the respect I have for your intelligence, I'm surprised that you would describe them the way you have above.
The sickest that I have ever been in my life was as a healthy and athletic 20-year old that was hospitalized due to influenza. From the first symptoms to hospitalization was just a matter of hours. Thanks to the medical care that I received, I recovered quickly. The second worst illness I've had was viral pneumonia decades later. Thanks to antiviral drug treatments that were available, I again recovered quickly and without hospitalization. The medical care that I received was informed and made possible by the prior research and advances in treatment by virologists. So, I for one am quite grateful for the work they've done over many years. Of course, I'm also grateful to virologists for their work in prevention of diseases that I've thankfully never suffered from, such as small pox and polio, due to their work in developing vaccines.
So to doctors, scientists, virologists, immunologists, epidemiologists, I say thanks. I'm grateful.
not to run my life. When they do, they are petty tyrants, not virologists.
The advice and expertise of virologists and other scientists is sought out by policy makers and decision makers in government. They are not the ones making those decisions that appear to be running your life nor are they "petty tyrants". If you feel victimized, please blame the right people for your victimhood.