Aye. Not everyone with a camera is a photographer, the same as not everyone with a brush is a painter, or anyone who draws plans is an architect.

There are few layers to it and you explained them.

The important part for me too is that technical skills and depth of creation need to both be there, generally speaking.

Because too much of the contemporary trend in everything, art and photography especially, is to skip the technical aspect to focuson the 'fancy' part.

In any case, I like the expression 'intent' and 'take it as you mean it'. Expresses well what focus and attitude an artist and photographer should have.