If you want to become one of the latter ones though you will have to put on a show for others and let them see you as a Tool of sorts. Not something I can stomach with my conscience.

That is exactly what training centres and chinese employers in EFL want generally. Yes, I think it is hard to stomach for any westerner. As you say, there are those who can stomach and work part time jobs everywhere, with little free time, but make perhaps a bit extra than your average FT, but as you also say, it is still nowhere near what a fully fledged expat with benefits will get of course.