Depending where you are, you absolutely do need a license. In Germany e.g. you need the A-license for flights where the landing spot location is the same as the starting point, and the B-license for cross-country. Rightfully so. Shit‘s dangerous, not only for you, but for others.

Greed makes people do evil things. I don’t think your usual evil guy is evil for the sake of it. It‘s something they strive for.