I saw a program recently that was put together by a diver who has an interest in squid.
He went right down to the depths and spent a fair amount of time with them.
He found that they were non aggressive and curious creatures, tactile and intelligent, and when it was time for him to go he ended up quite moved by the whole experience.
The documentary was quite moving itself and he went on to explain how they are possibly endangered, though due to their elusiveness this is an unknown factor.
Ultimately, he convinced me to view the kind of thing referred to in this thread as pretty barbaric.
Certainly, the footage of him surrounded by hundreds of Giant squid, yet not in the remotest danger, was quite breathtaking.