People do seem to undervalue guinea pigs, think of them as pets suitable only for young children and not worth vet expenses.
A co-worker of my son's thought it ridiculous that I take Peanut Butter in to the vet for regular work on his problem teeth. When my son asked him what he would have done in my place, the answer was "there would be one less guinea pig in the world". I was aghast.
On the other hand, after people have actually spent time in my home with my 2 boys they all fall in love with piggies. I had an overseas houseguest for 3 months last year who plagued me practically every morning if she could take "the baby" out of its cage - meaning Hazelnut, who was then 3 months old and had not yet acquired his friend PB. She couldn't keep her hands off him!