How ham radio endures

I often wonder why amateur radio operators put up with the derogatory name ham because many are very skilled in electronics and they're anything but hams. I've always hated the term, even the term amateur has negative connotations that aren't warranted.

I'd prefer the term experimental radio operator or such. I say that as someone who once held an amateur ticket (for quite some decades) which I got whilst I was still at school.