If that works for you, great. But I can attest that this absolutely is a method used by many professionals. I've since met dozens of people who make their living off of photography who use it.
For birds that don't come to bird feeders, there are other techniques. E.g. if you want to shoot bald eagles, you can go to lock and dam 14 on the Mississippi (Le Claire, Iowa). People use slingshots to shoot fish out into the river so the eagles will dive in close.
There are forums for birding groups to post where rare birds have been spotted hanging out. Photographers will "flock" there and bait the birds to get a shot. So, a bit of a combination of going to the bird and bringing it to you.
For a hobbyist, spending hours out in the woods, to maybe get a shot, maybe in descent lighting, might make for a fun, relaxing way to spend some time. But people counting on getting shots for a living are going to use whatever methods make them efficient. The "honest" photographers will get beat out of the market by competition.
I don't think its dishonest to increase your odds of taking a picture, and sorry if this sounds rude, but I don't believe you that baiting is mainstream/necessary/all that useful. We're just going in circles so there's no point in arguing. You have your opinion and I have mine.
For birds that don't come to bird feeders, there are other techniques. E.g. if you want to shoot bald eagles, you can go to lock and dam 14 on the Mississippi (Le Claire, Iowa). People use slingshots to shoot fish out into the river so the eagles will dive in close.
There are forums for birding groups to post where rare birds have been spotted hanging out. Photographers will "flock" there and bait the birds to get a shot. So, a bit of a combination of going to the bird and bringing it to you.
For a hobbyist, spending hours out in the woods, to maybe get a shot, maybe in descent lighting, might make for a fun, relaxing way to spend some time. But people counting on getting shots for a living are going to use whatever methods make them efficient. The "honest" photographers will get beat out of the market by competition.