Many good perspectives. I saw some stuff posted here about the "real gunsmith" many months ago and did not bother opening the links in the first post....I am not impressed with the guy.
But I do enjoy seeing what others on the forum think.
As to hunting vs shooting, I see it this way. You can shoot a critter without doing much hunting, but you cannot hunt a critter without shooting. Most people will not develop the skills or put in the time and effort to "hunt" like an Indian. Many "hunters" I know bait deer/bear or run dogs on bears and smaller critters. BTW running dogs is not for everyone and it is not as "effortless" as some people think. I live in an area of Michigan hillbillies, and I have met some great hunters but not one good shooter. A good hunter does not need much shooting skill, a precision rifle, or finely tuned handloads.
Anyway, for me, I have established an ethical range that matches my shooting ability and the caliber. I used to be a decent rifle shot, but physical issues have reduced my ability to hold well enough to take an off-hand shot at more than 100 yards on a deer. Out of a blind or in a prone position, 400 yards (with little wind) is my limit with the .308.
IMO many people taking long shots are not capable of doing it ethically. There was a guy who posted about downing a deer at 265 yards with a .45LC. That was not an ethical shot with the equipment he used, but it would not be a "long shot" with a .308.
The long range mentality is easy to buy into especially for shooters. How many sit at the loading and shooting bench for hours developing a MOA or better load, then more hours over a chronograph chasing a low SD combination of the bullet and powder the barrel "likes". And then add in a couple of "ladder tests" because that is what the precision rifle guys are doing. Never mind the meticulous case prep needed to get there...wherever "there" is. Just a waste of time and resources if you are not going to shoot a deer past 400 yards, or coyotes past 300 yards, etc etc. IMO it is akin to guys who reload pistol ammunition on a single stage press and weigh their charges...in the words of our ex Sec of State, "What difference does it make?"
All that effort generates a NEED to make the long shot to brag about it, and to "prove" it was all worthwhile and "necessary". Long range shooting is rarely a necessity, but it boosts the ego so people do it. Have you ever read about the shortest sniper kill in history?.....I think not.