Mine, neither. I, personally, do not pursue animals for trophies. I hunt for food, or to eliminate a threat. If I ever catch a record fish, it will be by accident, not design.
Since 1986, the annual auction of one Bighorn Sheep license in North Dakota (self-guided hunt) has raised over a million dollars for the Game and Fish department. The at auction record for that one permit was $75,000.00 in 2013.
Consider, however, much of the westward expansion was initially fur trappers, and that those who buy licenses for trophy hunting here, and especially in Africa do much to fund conservation efforts for the very species they hunt.
In that regard, they ensure the future of animals which might be regarded as a nuisance or threat by making them a valuable (and largely self-funding) managed resource.
Without that, many of these creatures might have been hunted to extinction.
Had this particular lion been known only for its propensity to invade villages and haul off livestock and small children instead of being the photogenic dandy of the Reserve, this discussion would have an entirely different tone.
If the Dentist, believed he was conducting a legal hunt and had placed his faith in his guides to conduct the hunt in a lawful manner, I can't blame him so much as the guides. I can fault him for a crappy shot.
BTW, Removing the hide and head ("cape")of a 'trophy' animal is common practice, and usually the locals get the meat as part of the deal. Even otherwise, nothing in nature is wasted, something eats what is left.
As I wrote earlier, I am not anti hunter. And you make some good points.
Fortunately I will never be in the position to spend that much on a permit. My wife would shoot me before I got a chance to put my boots on!