Well, I no longer play much guitar, and never played piano, so I guess I'm not a real musician. Woops! It says I am on my tax returns for the past 40 years, and we all know the government doesn't lie, so maybe I am after all.
I PLAY arrangers, not piano. If you don't think arrangers are a legitimate instrument, you may be on the wrong forum! If you feel guilty about using arrangers and feel you are cheating, quit using them.
Most of the "real" musicians I know make the same money as I do, and then divide it four or five ways.
Having said all this, I have to agree with most of what has been brought up recently, concerning the audience perception of what we're doing, the advancement of technology to the point of where what we're doing is not believable, etc. Doesn't mean I have to accept it though!
I don't have to please the world, just enough people who want to listen to me and maybe dance for a while.
I'm swimming upstream, hoping to survive long enough to reach the spawning grounds. Then I truly believe things will be even better! Maybe next time around I'll be a guitarist and get ALL the women instead of just the finest ones.

DonM