I agree with your sentiment. The DM is another player at the table and by monetize the role feels wrong. DMing is more work than being a player so I can see the impulse. I do feel that this gives a certain expectations that the DM cater more to the players.

That being said I have payed to play DnD before but it's more like a fee to use the space. When I played at a game store they charged $5 to play at their table for their weekly game. Same for registration fees to play for public games especially for a DnD play organization. Those that regularly connect players with DMs at 3rd party locations.