Just stop. I’m not killing anyone, or even putting anyone at risk, so quit the whole drama-queen bit. If the hapless hikers lose the trail, they should know enough to turn back, and if they don’t, they’re endangering themselves. Same as if nobody had ever built the silly little markers in the first place.
As for what I get out of it, I’m improving the appearance of the trail. No perverse pleasure involved at all.
This comes from your selfish opinion. You could, indeed, be hurting someone. You just STOP IT.
You are a moron, and you could be putting people at risk, to no purpose. Do you also remove street signs in order to “improve the appearance” of the landscape?