http://www.bakuc.com/ is EXACTLY what I am talking about.
You go on their page and see 1 good kit for every 20 snapped or pannel lined only kits. There is the problem, but its not what you think. Mecha builders only get exposure to mecha kit sites. Site with the experts (like this one) have tiny mecha population and they feel they dont fit in. There are good mecha sites, but there elitist sites.
http://www.bakuc.com/ is a contest yes, but the galleries you see are people's galleries. People post what they did, if there a beginner (just snapping) or someone whos an expert, using AM parts and upgrades and heavy modification to a kit (like the kind of thing that the ipms classifies as intermediate and whatnot) http://www.bakuc.com/modeler/alkaiser/2964 (for example).
I havent had the time or inspiration to work on a mecha kit in a while, I am going to for a upcoming GB though. Just look at my bakuc site, all of the stuff there was from before I started doing scale, when I was on a mecha only forum. None of my stuff got anything but harsh unfriendly criticism from the elitist mecha forums. For every one good thing they would say 20 bad things, and NOT tell you how to fix it. I cant tell you how many times my kits had wierd bubbling on the paint (look at the heavyarms) noone ever told me how to fix it. They said pull the can back (I did, didnt work) now I know it was a problem with the can. (and cans being a problem in general. I have improved 10 fold since coming here.
So when I say lack of respect, I also mean the lack of a welcoming community for mecha. We dont poo poo it and shoe it away, but we dont embrace with open arms either. If we did we would have a whole crop of good people coming here learning from all of you, and teaching some of you some stuff. (like for example, LED instilation, and extreme articulation modification.
As far as being toys go... I have seen some army men (granted, they wre brittans figures, not green army men) but toy soldiers none the less, that are manufactured and look better then some people on this site's work, and better then some figure kit molding. So... Toys arent always a bad thing.
Lastly, I DARE you to admit that you did not, once, ever, in your life, pick up one of your model planes, and zoom it around the room, or pretend to strafe a tank kit with it atleast one time. I'll admit I have (and my zero isnt finished yet)