With no disrespect taken, and sincere apologies for mine. Perhaps that wasn’t the best way to phrase it, and you’re correct. That is all professional means.
However, if you’re any level of photographer looking for advice about the trade or in depth knowledge about a particular field of photography, you generally find someone that is experienced. Now this can just as easily be an amateur or any non-professional. My grandfather was an absolutely brilliant photographer and never shot professionally, but I knew him personally and that brings trust. Just as well, there is an abundance of professionals who you scratch your head about. As strangers on the internet -you don’t know them personally- it would be difficult to vet them as being proficient in answering or providing an educated response without at least getting to know them on some level. The only way to really build that kind of “relationship” online is from historically sound advice, demonstration of knowledge in what you’re asking about, or a portfolio that shows they have experience in that field, etcetera. Like bird photography, I know so little about it so asking questions about it or getting a response about it from members here or elsewhere that have established good techniques or reliable information I consider trustworthy sources. That can be applied to anything.
A good analogy would be if you’re looking for advice about plumbing and some random person on the internet with zero signs of experience tells you how to do something. They could be spot on, but you would likely question it, would you not? But if they come out of the gate and you can establish they’re a day-to-day professional plumber, you would be more likely to take that stranger’s advice. I think that’s a pretty reasonable outlook. In this case, I directly responded to someone that decided to engage with neuro. My response was probably better shared as a private message. I just like reading people’s opinions, thoughts, and talking about cameras. In nearly every single thread on this website I see someone responding to him defending themselves after being spoken to rudely and you just get sick of it. It’s virtually every thread. Remarkable.