Singing the designer's blues

"Funny yet painfully true" post over at BLANK - Form without Meaning:

Why are clients so cheap when it comes to design? Do they not understand what we do? Do they not care? Have we led them to crave logos like an expectant mother craves a midnight jar of pickles?

In every service based business, you're met with the challenge of defining what you do and justifying the cost. It is particularly difficult when your profession falls into an artistic grey area. And there are too many Mc-logo designers willing to crank out another swoosh or clip art design.