Don't you think that its kind of hypocritical to take money for something that you say you dispise so much?
That question being asked, I'd have to say the ethics of the guided hunts depend on many different factors. For the most part, I think that if it is not just an out and out "canned hunt," then it is ethical!
I live in Southeast Texas, deer is the only big game around here, and I'm at least a thousand miles from real elk hunting, and probably even further away from moose! Elk, or moose hunting will probably be a once or twice in a lifetime thing for me! In this type of case, scouting would be out of the question! My best chance at a sucessful hunt would be either a guided hunt or a drop camp, where someone else would be basically putting me on the game! What is unethical about that?

As far as being a hunter, as I said I live in SE Texas, hunting is hard and trophies are few! Not trying to be a braggard, but I've taken a deer, or two. So, I do know a little about hunting! Just not elk, and moose hunting, in unfamiliar territory!

Now let me compare apples, to apples for a moment here. Deer hunting, and/or guided deer hunting! Deer hunting is anywhere from public land, to guided, high dollar hunts, and everything in between! There are those who can pay big money to get big deer. Are they really hunters, or just killers? I'd say even that depends on the individual! They may be a very knowledgable hunter, or just a person with enough money to do what they want to! They might not be able to hunt their way out of a grocery store or they may be good enough to hunt anywhere, anytime! It just depends on the person behind the gun, and the situation!

I think most of these "weekend warriors, and "once in a lifetimers," know that they are not the ones doing the work, and that their "great trophy," is not on par with the hunter that scouts, works, and hunts, their own game!
Most of these "hunters," usually give their guides the credit for putting them in position to take a trophy animal, not to mention their tip money!

I hope that if, and when I get the chance to go elk, or moose hunting, I get a guide that is a REAL GUIDE! Not just a prostitute stabbing me in the back!