On NIH funded research: Job or "gift"?

I had a very fascinating comment pop up in a prior thread following a post which described the relationship between Congressional budget passing and the ability of the NIH to fund grants. This was motivated, I will remind you, by a comment at writedit’s place from a trainee who was holding a 3%ile score (i.e., well within any likely payline) and anticipating a NIH fellowship award on Dec 1.
A couple of commenters described NIH grants as “FREE money” or “gifts“..and I took exception to this characterization.
There were a couple of exchanges until finally another (?) commenter laid down enough rotten egg to merit another post. It started with:

Bitter much?

Open Kvetch

I am certain I am going to regret this….

Ponderable

sometimes I think I am insufficiently demanding as a PI