Not quite so here in Western Europe. For instance Michael Fibiger the recently (one year ago) deceased chairman of our entomological society here in Copenhagen was trained and worked as a psychologist, but was a renowned expert on noctuids internationally (editor and main author of a multi volume work on on European noctuids) and I think the only real expert in the world on Micronoctuidae.

But I think you are right in almost any other part of the world, the pros do not count the "private entomologists" (aka amateurs).

I would not mind get vouchers for the pros (I collect here in Denmark). The problem would be, that many of the places I go to are National Parks, and taking vouchers would require having a permit, which I believe is a hassle to get? And if it is not planned collecting, normally I would not bother to seek a permit in advance, which means I can not do it, if the wanted guy suddenly shows up at the light... In places like Denmark we can normally collect where ever and what ever we want (except specially protected species - these are very few just 10-15 butterflies and one (1) moth). To have real impact of contributions from field amateurs, I honestly think it is necessary to generally allow non-commercial collecting. Sites and species can be exempted (closed zones, protected species) from this off course.