Mike
A very valid point!
I do a lot of my service but I also have an excellent dealer.
The dealership I call home takes great care of us.
And that experience builds an excellent bullchit shield for those times you do require the services of a motorcycle "professional."
My local dealer is superior in many, many ways to what I read here & hear elsewhere. Are they perfect? Nope. Do I do everything they recommend? - nope. Do I listen to them when they recommend? - yep.
Doing your own service and as much wrenching as you are able gives you the knowledge (can be a dangerous thing) to decide stuff for yourself as well as how to go about it. Wish I had more time - work gets in the way lots - I default to the dealer for some stuff due to time constraints.