The commercialization of guiding is perhaps a uniquely N. American perspective on climbing.
Other places, especially Europe, have plenty of professional guides who make their living, for their entire life, from guiding. Climbing with a guide is an acceptable past time - even for CEOs (Reinhold Messner guided the exCEO of Daimler Benz). If you wish to start climbing you hire a guide, pursue through your local Alpine Club, or perhaps go with friends. The US doesn't have much for professional guiding, not much for Alpine Clubs, so you are left with friends.