It definitely comes off as 1) "I don't know how to do my job, please explain it to me" or 2) "can you tell me why the salaried employment relationship exists?"

It definitely comes off as 1) "I don't know how to do my job, please explain it to me" or 2) "can you tell me why the salaried employment relationship exists?" I mean, I'd answer (while trying desperately to contain the sarcasm and not to talk to the person asking it like they don't know WTF they're doing) but the answer is always something like "you should hire me if you think I can and will complete tasks that are worth more to you than what I cost you". Obviously. You know your business, we've talked about what I can do... so figure it out.