ptwyz,
Hey man I GUARANTEE that almost everybody that you plowed snow for is extremely gracious. The kid that brought you the venison probably only did that because he is not shy and probably deals with people he doesn't know on a regular basis. So approaching you wasn't too bad for him. For the others, don't be so quick to think they didn't appreciate what you did. Most people are opposite of that kid as dealing with others they don't know is foreign and out of there comfort zone. I bet they were blown away when they noticed you doing them a tremendous favor and being that the favor was so huge they don't know what to do.
Trust me on this, I deal with it all year long. I live in a very rural area with my property over a mile up a dirt road. The dirt road will never be maintained by the county no matter how bad it gets. When the big rains come and wash out sections making it impassible or the snow comes and locks everybody in, the county aint coming. This is why I bought a tractor. I will go out and clear snow and repair washed out areas. Sometimes I have to wait a couple of days if the soaking was really bad because the dirt is just to wet, can't work with the mud as a road, it'll just make it worse.
Anyway, I'm typing too much. There is a lady down the way, she always comes out and tells me I look like I'm working hard and hands me a couple of beers. Another one further up sometimes gives me fresh baked cookies. For the other people spread out, a long time ago when I got the tractor I thought they didn't care, they never said a word. But over the years, they have come up to me and basically say they are happy I'm working and repairing the road and they always have been. Some will drive up and just talk to me for a while, makes them feel good I guess. Almost every single one of them has offered something: food, beer, gas and money. To the exception of the ones that shove beer in my face, I always turn there offers down. I will never take money from them, period.
Long story longer, it takes years to get some of the people you help to get the courage up to thank you. They are thankful now but they don't know how to thank you.
As far as the cautions of free work for the ungrateful? Fortunately I don't think I'm going to have that problem.
Scott