So we're clear, the fine is $100,000 and they will warn you once. If you are profiting in any way (running ads on your Youtube, Twitch or using it to build a brand, it's commercial use). The FAA has gone on record claiming that if you're using it to inspect your own roof... because that service is usually paid, you are saving money therefore profiting monetarily.
Anti-authority is one of the dangerous traits in aviation so go forth and do whatever you want, but $100,000 is a lot of drones.
inspecting the roof is not flying for fun. so you need a part 107.
building a brand on YouTube by using your drone videos is not flying for fun. so you need a part 107.
the only difference between what you and I are saying is the reason behind it; like "monetary profiting" and "running ads" and "paid" which is in exactly ZERO places in the faa law. but is sure sounds good, I know.
the fine is up to $100,000 and maybe only one or two people have been fined (for something other than illegal flying) out of millions of videos and billions of views. very few people (maybe less than 1,000 even get a warning).
the faa doesn't go on record; they go by the law. if they are answering a question then they are helping you understand the law and interpreting it for you and it's all based on the law.
just so we are clear, the reason why inspecting your roof requires a part 107 is not because it is usually a paid service or you are making a profit or because some faa guy said yes in a seminar to a random question. the real reason why inspecting your roof requires a part 107 because inspecting your roof is not a recreational activity (i.e. it is not flying for fun). if you take off from the ground and your intent is to take a look at the roof checking for damage (and not simply taking off to have fun flying) then you are engaging in a part 107 commercial activity. it's not going to matter if you are paid or not, it's not going to matter if you made money, lost money, made a profit, or gave it away or volunteered your time....it's not flying for fun.
don't make this harder than it has to be.