Script kiddies seem to be teenagers, who do have some hacking abilities, but use other's programs to crack. Hackers do not get arrested, because they do not generally participate in illegal activities. The debate should not be how dangerous crackers are, but where the line is drawn between hacker and cracker. Crackers are very dangerous, don't doubt this. I believe true hackers know when they've crossed the line, but the world's law enforcement has yet to establish any black and white laws regarding cybercrime and just punishments.
Corporations are constantly under attack by crackers, some want information, and some want fame.
These hackers claim to have not damaged anything and that their motive is merely to make the internet more secure. Entering through an unlocked door is still trespassing. The worst aspect of prosecuting cybercrime in the 1980's and 90's is that there are no real guidelines for the severity of punishment for various crimes. Cybercrime is evolving every day, and new kinds of crimes are being explored. A web page defacer should not be punished as severely as a cracker who stole credit card numbers.