Nearly everything this article takes issue with could be fixed by treating rich metadata at the filesystem level as a first class citizen, and enhancing basic dialog functions to reflect that metadata.
>> People rarely prostitute themselves (or others) for tobacco though.
Not really a fair comparison of addictive qualities. If heroin were legal, regulated, and priced accordingly, no-one would prostitute themselves (or others) for it.
I'd expect them to do their jobs and remain professional, and if they feel that they can no longer do that, then they should quit vs. petulantly refusing to do their jobs.
Public sentiment is the way it is because of rampant documented abuses of power, authority, and regression to childish, over simplistic views of their positions and responsibilities.
Unless one trains oneself to notice them (or if one has an affinity to them due to being an enthusiast), two wheeled vehicles are a lot harder to notice while driving in a car.