I think what mikegeister is refering to is that the current culture of the design profession can be a ruthless one (99designs) where people have to work for free just to get a shot at being paid. The work that the designer does is (out of ignorance I argue) commonly considered easy, since “it’s just drawing something” and because of that designers have a hard time getting proper compensation (or none at all) for the hours they work.
But work is work, it really does not matter if it is designing, programming, acting, singing etc. The work that a logo designer does is a very delicate process, like a very precise tweaking of an algorithm to produce the final result. A lot going on “under the hood” of the design process, invisible to the outsider.
What 99designs is doing, is taking advantage of the common attitude that people have for the art professions and strengthening it. This leads to further devaluing the profession of the designer and rewarding superficiality (spoiling the market).
What decisions have been made regarding the organizing of the competition have been made and no guilt should be felt (since I am sure no ill will was meant). But going further maidsafe and safenetwork should respect the ethics of the other profession and I am sure they will 