Steve I take your point.....the main argument I have is not with writing the tune or lyric it is about making a recording and paying for it. Most lay folk, and I include lyric only writers when I say this, have no clue as to how much time and skill it takes to record a demo or a song.
As you will know from writing and recording your own music it takes many studio hours and much editing time to lay down even just a couple of tracks. My point is that this skill, time and effort is not recognised either financially or credit wise.
Perhaps if lyricists visited a studio and saw first hand how complicated and expensive the gear was and how time consuming the recording, editing, mixing and mastering process was they might have a different perspective.
Some misguided people think a 5min song takes 5mins to record.

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=687727&songID=5238055