Sol,
I have a ton of respect for you.
Few people have anything on you when it comes to fishing big steelhead.
We are going to have to disagree on a few points regarding guided hunting though.
If you have never been on a guided hunt and really don't have anything to base your judgement on.

Lots of guys that have never been on one share your sentiment.

I'm not into a guide holding my hand walking me up to the corn flinger and saying "shoot him".

I have had a passion for the big game animals of North America all my life.

Highest on my list are some of the world's most difficult to hunt animals.
I daydream about going sheep hunting in the far north some day.

Laws and logistics mandate the use of a guide to hunt Dall or Stone sheep.

Those hunts are not "gentlemen's hunts" instead they test the guide and client to the highest degree.

It becomes a team effort as both rely on each other for survival in extremely harsh vertical country miles away from civilization.

Certainly there are cushy guided hunts that require nothing more from the hunter than a leisurely stroll and the pull of a trigger.

I enjoy hunting on my own and will continue to as long as I can, but given a chance, I'd jump on several guided hunts and be rightfully proud of the "Trophy" I was able to take.

A good mountain guide ain't doing anything I don't do when hunting big mountain country.
Burning legs and lungs followed by glassing intentley for that one special animal.
Some of the most memorable times spent on a hunt are the harsh living conditions endured while living in the wilderness testing your survival skills and mental toughness.

On my guided brown bear hunt, my pack weighed just as much as my guide's, we siwashed out in the rain and snow and I spotted the bear before he did.

I suppose if I could, I'd first opt to hunt them on my own, but I can't.

I'd trade places with this guy in a New York minute and nobody could tell me it wasn't a hard earned trophy even though a guide was used.