I must ask a question.
Based on this logic, why should I want your respect?
If respect is not free and something that must be earned.
Then why should I respect you enough to want your respect?
If you think I'm being complicated to confuse you or using circular logic I assure you it's quite simple.
Since by your logic, respect is not free, meaning I don't have any of your respect, and by that same concept you have none of my respect.
So by that logic, if I don't have any respect for you, by default because Respect is not free, then why should I want your respect?
In which case the only way it makes sense at least to you; is if your respect is worth more than mine.