You are 100% correct that it is a privilege. For commercial pilots, however, it is also how you make a living. I'm not saying you shouldn't be disqualified if you have a disqualifying condition because of safety, but to what end? If the FAA is going to mandate testing above what is already required and in the past you have demonstrated you have met that standard, then the FAA needs to foot the bill. It shouldn't be permitted that the government arbitrarily imposes new regulations that end up costing us more money. If you do something that puts your certificate in jeopardy, that is your fault and the government should not be liable.

What will you do when the FAA comes to you and says that since X% of people over the age of 50 are more prone to arthritis? They say you risk not being able to control the aircraft so we need to have you send a copy of a MRI of every joint to the FAA once a year. There is no way your medical coverage would not cover that. Where does it stop? Family history? Can they make you pay for at CAT scan because your dad had a brain tumor? This isn't about meeting the health portion of the medical. This is about radical moves that could potentially cost pilots THOUSANDS of dollars. All for what? Because there is a 2% chance that fatigue caused by OSA at the end of a long day might be one of 40 contributing factors to an accident?