> The days where a cop, judge or prosecutor identified as the function they render to society are over, I suspect.

The are in fact people who take their jobs seriously today. Are there actual hard numbers on how the prevalence of this has changed over the long term?

> To do good work means risking divorce, lowering your per hour wage, becoming a target for the bad guys, watching your lazier colleagues pass you by, and putting your health in jeopardy.

It is in fact possible to do quality work without martyring yourself.

> This was seen as heroic in the 80s. Today it is seen as dumb, naïve and futile.

"Was seen"... by whom? Both now and then, you'll get different answers on whether it's a good thing depending on who you ask.