Paying for expertise (in whatever field) is fine by me. Generally, people have trained, they have specific experience that I do not have. The argument that a lot is half-brain stuff anyone could do implies anyone has the time to spend learning all the ins and outs of the "stuff" that is easy to do, on face value. Sure, many of us could have become lawyers or accountants, but we didn't. A lot of what I do is unbelievably repetitive, and could be taught to someone with reasonable dexterity and common sense. But would they have the extra knowledge to cope with the unexpected, or the experience to get out of trouble?
My main beef is the peripheral stuff which is grossly over-charged. The unit price charged to read emails that are 2 lines long, photocopying costs, brief phone calls. Not to mention the final invoice that is double the initial quote.
I have to quote and fully financially inform patients of costs, and I would never get away with some of the practices I've seen from some other professions.
As @Inside Shoulder says, a lot of stuff done by navvies but charged at full freight.
