I've been there with non-technical clients. I've seen people get ripped off by those who misrepresent themselves or their abilities. I agree, there is pain th

I've been there with non-technical clients. I've seen people get ripped off by those who misrepresent themselves or their abilities. I agree, there is pain there and it is wrong. But this is not a problem exclusive to our occupation. All I can say is, personally, my own professional ethics require me to try to know my own limits and abilities and present those honestly. So, for example, if a client came to me with a technical need, and I felt that I wanted to fulfill it, but it was reasonably out of my wheelhouse, I would either turn down or direct that client to the best alternative I could think of, if I could not provide it. I suppose, ethics training is a part of professional development in more rigid occupations, maybe if ours was formalized more, this would be more prevalent.