That being said, I'm not particularly bombarded by these kinds of requests and I could definitely see it wearing on me if people were constantly asking me to fix their machines.
So, yeah, I sort of agree with you, but the math can get more complicated. If it's me fixing it for them x 10 vs. them taking an hour to figure it out, then the first option might be more efficient and more gratifying.
p.s. I came up with this rate because it's the same amount that the local Subaru race shop charges to work on your car.
It's also easy to be sucked in by acquaintances like this: "Can you have a look at my PC after work? It won't take very long and I'll make you dinner." to which you of course agree. The bad part comes later, because you've just set a precedent and evenings like this will keep repeating. Those people think two afterwork hours of fiddling with their ancient Windows crap is worth exactly one burrito and a Sprite. Yeah, it happened to me recently.
This is what most people think. The only response to charge an absurd amount of money. If they shut up, you win, if they pay, you win.
