Why do so many MSGs insist on being addressed as Master Sergeant?

As a Spec 4, I always expected to be referred to as a Full Bird Private.

Staff Sargeant through Master Sargeant always got whittled down to Sargeant and very few that held those ranks cared in my experience. Those that didn't care cared more about their job in their rank and their troops than they did the rank itself. Those that cared about the rank and how they were addressed didn't care much about their job or their troops. It's the difference between being a micromanaging boss and a good leader. I always gave rank its due respect but those that cared more about their rank got little to none as a person.

We just called them TOP.

Never had one disagree with me addressing them as "Top".

Recently, I've noticed a number of Soldiers address me as Command Sergeant Major. They look bewildered when I tell them to address SGM and CSM as Sergeant Major. Even the Sergeant Major of the Army is addressed as Sergeant Major. There were a number of times on the General's Staff as the G4 SGM, I was addressed by some as 1SG. Few Soldiers see SGM so it is easy to make the mistake. I have seen a number of MSG correct junior enlisted when they were addressed as Sergeant instead of Master Sergeant. I always remind them it is an honor to have been selected to serve as a Sergeant at any grade and accept the respect intended when addressed as Sergeant. There is an old story of Ike walking around a post one evening. A Sergeant needed a hand moving some stuff and asked "Joe" to lend a hand. The next day, the Sergeant saw Ike outside the HQ building and recognized him from the night before. The Sergeant began to apologize, but Ike reminded him that even as a five star general, he was still just a Soldier. Humble leaders receive more real respect from their Soldiers and never have to demand it. Master Sergeants are Sergeants and should be proud to be an enlisted leader in the Army.

As a current Army Master Sergeant, I don't care if they call me Master Sergeant, or Sergeant. I don't know of any of my peers that "require" it. I believe most of my Soldiers who do, are just trying to show me respect.

Quite frankly for the very same reason you address your Sergeants Major, Sergeant Major, they’ve earned the title…. Now ask yourself why you deserve a diamond? Same salutation would probably be assumed, but then again, I’m not one who likes the word assume. And why is this a topic from a First Sergeant??? Did another Master Sergeant rub you wrong? Last I looked, grade of E-8 was the same, so where’s the argument, one is a technician, the other a leader.
So glad I’m not in the game anymore…

Because they're not Sergeant Majors?

I remember a clown that demanded he be called LTC, rank or title doesn't make you a leader , try earning the respect of your team, I was a Sr. VP, at no time did I ever require my team use my title however, that said if "full rank" is required you should comply , life's to short pick your battles

I might be mistaken, but that or some other AR seems to allow disrespect to those "PRIVATES" that have earned the "honor" of the rank of E-3, aka Private First Class.
I bought a UMCJ Article 15, for demanding my actual rank respect from a buck Sargent.
Rank never made any real Soldier, no "leader", no actual human being: Don't believe me? Ask the Ft. Hood Commanding General why he attempted deflecting His failure to protect all members of His Command, when He pointed to an incomplete investigation (Criminal) of a Soldier that had died due to Gross Medical Neglect under His watch...
God Bless Our Caring Soldiers, regardless of their rank(s).
AMEN.