So, the only point of all this that I can understand is that the gum-smacking teenager, working minimum wage at the mall at Christmas time who knows only how to say "look here and smile" while pushing down on a buttom on the locked-down camera is superior to the expert photographer, who happens to be a president of a major corporation, but photographs out of the love of it and as an artistic release. The fact that this individual is known worldwide for his photographic and artistic skills is irrelevant. He's no pro, so he should just sit down and shut up.
Let's take Michael as an example: He is in the business of selling information, not necessarily photography. In fact, as a percentage of his entire household income, it's fair to say that he's not a professional photographer. Expert photographer? Well, that's another question. But moral superiority doesn't ride upon whether a person actually knows what he/she is doing, just that he/she is getting paid for it. So, Michael should just sit down and shut up.
As to the quote/reference/whatever from the photographer who only shoots for assignment or some such nonsense. I'd say that he isn't a photographer. He's a service-provider.
Do I believe that the unnamed company president or Michael should sit down and shut up? Of course not. But this moral superiority by SERVICE PROVIDERS WHO HAPPEN TO USE A CAMERA is pure nonsense. Besides, this "need to shoot" is described essentially as "need to earn money" totally throws real artists under the bus, because a real artist has a need to create whether anybody buys their product or not. Unfortunately, the narrow definition of pro/non-pro leaves no room for them. "Earn money or get out of my way--LOSER!"
Frankly, an argument could be made that the service providers who happen to use a camera really aren't photographers at all. They're just the same as anybody else who sells a service, whether it's dog walking, lawn mowing, or general handyman.
"I am a professional photographer!" said the man to the waitress. "That's fine and everything, but you still owe me $1.50 for that cup of coffee."
Ken -- Professional Geek