i think the role of drummer is not looked at as a big role because of a couple reasons.  

1) most drummers seek "the pocket" ... that elusive space where you blend in perfectly with a song.  its a lack of ego that isnt found on most "up front" musical roles.

2) most of the public views drumming as "easy".  youve got a half a dozen things around you and you swing at 'em.  in this same regard, it has a more "low-brow" stature.  (note: same common misconception about bass, but lets not get into that )

how do i feel about these things? well, i dont think you need to be flashy.  serving the music is key.  be it a solid groove, or loose and textural.  i feel the same about all instruments.  if that means, being a backline player, so be it.  and about point 2, ive given up caring.  all i can say to the public is "its not easier, just different".  

im perfectly ok being considered a smaller part of a band.  because i know, that in the end, thats not the case.  i have my way of playing and it makes its stamp on the music.  and my bandmates know and respect that.  if they didnt, they wouldnt be my bandmates

Ive noticed that alot.  When i was back in HS, i had a couple of friends i use to play with, but than times changed and we grew apart.  One day, they were talking about a coffee house they played out at(3 guitarists) and i was all, why didn't you guys invite me? and the one kid replies, you play heavy music.  So, i said, beats are all the same, regardless of the genre of music...yea i got him good.

One thing that bugs me to no end is not being able to physically see every person I'm playing with.  I've commented on other threads concerning eye contact and its importance in getting to know the other musicians.  At any rate, due to this felt need of seeing the other musicians, a band I was with several years ago had to undergo a slight change.  What effect it had on peoples conceptions of the drummer, I don't recall specific quotes but people seemed to enjoy being able to see more of what I was doing.  We set up so that the keyboard player and I faced each other where my right side faced the audience.  The bass and electric guitarist were in the center such that the instrumentalists surrounded the vocalists.  Now perhaps you may think of problems pretty quickly such as the resonant heads not facing the audience, etc.  but I played with a shield anyway so that really wasn't a factor.  I felt better, the audience got to see more because I and the keyboard player didn't have instruments in front of our hands- they could better see what we were doing.

I saw Duffy in Miami, FL about 1978 in a production of Ain't Misbehavin.' So cool. He played with some of the local jazz heavies (remember that noted jazz school , Univ. of Miami is there) in the band which was always _ON_ STAGE_ as opposed to dwon in the pit. The prodduction included a rolling band stand that would roll out to the very front center of the stage for all to see this great band swing like crazy. Then it would roll back when the actors came on stage. Just great.  He's a 'swing high' guy [Louis Bellson].
It all seemed like it was presented as it should have been and everybody got to see the drums/drummer close up.