Your tangents are always warmly received, stio.
If your thread had simply been about How to be a good host I would not challenge a single word. I absolutely agree with your philosophy of being an "owner" who is humbled by his guests. It is as great a model for home as it is for business, or life for that matter.
Trackers/homes/businesses/individuals who treat guests/friends/associates with differing views face their own problems. BUT they have a right to chose to face these problems.
Yes, staff are guests. However, they have made commitments of time, effort, and certain levels of stress that "regular" guests have not committed to. They deserve additional respect (and dare I say power) for making and meeting these commitments.
Yes, the drama llamas are everywhere. It is never as much fun to say thanks as it is to criticize. It is also not as efficient a use of time to discuss things that are already working properly. Broken ones need to be discussed.
The trading thing is a case of greed. I don't have a solution for that.
Sleep well. I find myself fortunate to only argue against you when you are drunk and I am sober. 
