[PoorTom]

define 'legitimate profession'. define 'hustler'.

you make your living exploiting other people's weaknesses and taking their money. you don't have a genuinely 'productive' job in many ways. hence you can be viewed as a hustler or parasite.

however, you do so within the rules of a game, in which they knew in advance that was your objective. so in that sense, you're justified in doing so and can legitimately claim some higher standing over simple conmen.

who cares how much time you spent learning poker. the fact is playing poker for a living is hardly noble or 'worthy'. it's fun and potentially profitable, but does have an unsavoury side. so do lots of jobs - advertising, stocks trading, arms dealing, whatever. some people don't like those jobs or the people who do them. deal with it.