The distinction is very important as different activities involving real estate should not be confused or lumped together by the public, or the participants.  

And the caveat about "professional wholesalers" is your distinction.  

Everyone has knowledge to share, free or paid, and everyone has a different flavor or music bringing it to the people ;-)That’s what makes us exciting and human :-)Keep learning, keep asking, and go out there, think BOLD (Peter Diamandis), find your music and let it out!

As someone who sends a lot of mail out I find two very distinct results.Large budget with a large prospect list and great infrastructure means post cards will be your answer.

As for liability protection, note that there are two basic, distinct concepts all investors should understand.

One very important distinction about taking a loan from your 401k is the double taxation payback aspect.

He made no distinction.  

There are distinct advantages for the option contract, but I believe the consensus is that the CAR form is the choice of investors by necessity rather than choice.

Is there a distinction, or am I just grossly over-thinking this?

The best part of being a professional real estate investor is that no matter what you flavor is this career is fairly blind and without prejudice... heck Helen Keller could buy housing for profit.