Detriment

Of course it is detrimental. Being different is difficult and detrimental. Being or doing something popularly perceived as bad can be detrimental to your health!

Now, I don't think you can easily 'cure' a sexuality, but if you go through lengthly trauma and psychotherapy, people can totally change and be somewhat reborn in a way, so I won't discount it.

But I'm not going to just believe it either and neither should you. We can never fully know the depths of our subsconscious, and it is a reasonable theory that someone has those lusts in their subconscious.

For some people, pedophilia is not appropriate and cannot be healthily retained. If sex is all you want, and you are aroused only by violent pornography, and cannot exhibit the self control to avoid accessing illegal materials, then it is definately out of control. Methods either to curb the root of the desire (as what you did) or to learn techniques for self control (which was probably also an aspect of your treatment) are both effective techniques.

I would not denigrate those who stick to the latter, or rather possess them inherantly from other struggles who do not degenerate to that state.

As to whether relations are 'mostly harmful' or not is irrelevant to the arguments here. What is argued is that it does not need to be harmful, and to explore how harm can be avoided and/or minimized in a legal informed consenting guilt-free relationship that happens in privacy and an accepting and nurturing environment. As all studies are based on things far from this, what Psychology sciences are drawing upon is biased source material. I don't know what you would be drawing your opinion on either here to think to know the demographics.

It is good that you have gotten over your guilt, but we really shouldn't be feeling guilty simply because of being attracted to someone. It shouldn't be necessary to become unattracted (or convince yourself you are) to feel good about helping people. If this were true, nurses and doctors would have trouble treating attractive patients.

I admit, it's a problem I suffer from too, with adults. I feel guilty for feeling more nicely towards attractive people than less attractive people. It makes me feel judgemental and shallow and feral. It can also occur when there is a pressing need for seriousness and a sexual thought or feeling flitters in when it serves no purpose at all to distract. Still, we must tolerate our mental laxity, as no focus or concentration can ever be truly perfect. Let the float in, then let it float through as you fill your thoughts with more important ones. There should no be guilt for the actions of the unconscious, for you cannot control it directly as the conscious.