Let me start out by saying I in no way meant to rag on you. I actually thanked you earlier for posting this reminder, knowing full well you would take a lot of heat. The last thing i want to do is give you a hard time for one bad decision, that we have all made, and that you have already paid for through and through.  That being said, my first reaction would have been similar to the people that didn't call. I would not have wanted to pick up the tab on my rescue. That story does bring up an interesting point and one I hadn't really seen.
I would like to see these be evaluated on more of a case to case basis perhaps. I think I unfairly lumped you in with the people you hear about every year. The ones that go out hiking by themselves, inadequately prepared or experienced, and then disobey all warning signs and get lost. I think you could make a case that you are an experienced and responsible skier that made one poor choice and you should get your get out of dodge free card.
I think I'm kind of rambling now. It does seem like very steep "fine" to pay in comparison to a speeding ticket per se. I would be in your boat. Happy to pay, but still begrudging because I pay so much in taxes already. ( inam a 24 yr old unmarried aerospace engineer, thank dod i bought a house so i could have at least one big writeoff)  I also in no way meant to infer you aren't a taxpayer, I just meant other tax payers.  I don't know this is a slippery issue to debate, a lot less clear cut than I initially thought.
Anyways. I don't know. I think maybe you've melted my cold heart because I know that couldve been me. And it would suck to go through all that and then have to shell out a few thousand. And I know you're extremely grateful for your rescue and will definitely not repeat the incident. It's a cruel world isn't it? Seems like some mistakes we pay more for than others, some way more.