I'll leave it at that Gilly- because somehow I don't think you are 'reading' what I am saying, somehow.
Few teachers will run trips in their own holidays (as I did with ski trips) for some very bizarre reasons... and few parents would send their kids on trips during the school holidays either- because this is when they ... take their own school holidays (surprisingly- yes, the great majority). So trips with cousins and family can normally be taken in holiday time- and I am TOTALLY aware of how difficult that can be to organise, as DH was very limited in when he could take holidays- it does take a lot of effort and planning- but it can be done- even if the location has to be adjusted to account for increased costs.
The kind of experience being away from family and having to share and cooperate with others- is indeed totally different to a family holiday, even with cousins imho. You disagree, that is fine.
But again, Heads, Senior staff and Governors have better things to do then discuss ad infernitum who to allow a term-time holiday or not... and then go through appeals, etc- with the real problems schools face today- and teachers too-- and that is my main issue here. Last post- we are going round and round in circles to nowhere- and I'm sure I won't change your mind.
But, and I repeat- if ever those parents require special help in special circumstances, or a sought after place for a younger sibbling, etc- I'm sure they will be the first to complain loudly and bitterly about how unfair it all is.