The same person that offers these types of compliments, asks me to “zoom” in on something 500 yards away using my 24mm F/1.4.

I really hope you’re not serious about the rant. The individual that pay’s these types of compliments are offering them in sincerity (usually, see comment below). If we receive a compliment like this, and we show that it bothers us to the person offering we can come off looking like the Diva that needs the snickers bar on the snickers commercial.

But do consider the source; if you and I were out in the field taking pictures together and I worded the comment that way, I wouldn’t be surprised if you told me where I could place one of my long telephoto lenses. In fact I would probably be expecting it.