When I think about several of my friends who are working or worked in hedge funds, I can see the validity of your point here. However, there are some hedge funds with a better business model, e.g. Millennium Partners (MLP) which offers a carved out deal including a silo'd trading environment and a small monthly salary.
hmm... i can see that you haven't been employed at a hedge fund and yet seem to think you know so much about them. and what is this "myth" about hedge funds? ...that you can't make some serious buck working at one? - you can. ...that they use you to pilfer your ideas? - you're not that special (or smart). ...that they leech from you and offer nothing in return? - well, they offer money. lots of it and that's good enough for me. (see previous response as well)