The status you speak of for physicians in general is derived from saving lives - generally thought to be pretty honorable. Also, doctors who work in more rural areas are trending towards making more than those in cities and already do make more when cost of living is accounted for.
Not going to say a dermatologist or podiatrist can't save lives, but I think they get most of the respect granted doctors who do without the same effect on society.
My pet peeve is the "cosmetic surgeon", making obscene amounts of money and wasting valuable medical resources to pursue a practice of enabling vanity.
