Podiatrists are physicians, medical doctors, doctors, surgeons...whatever you want to call them. They are medical professionals. Podiatry is newer than osteopathy, remember podiatrists were called chiropodists as recently as early 1900s. The first podiatry school (NYCPM) was created in the early 1900s as well, celebrating its 100 year anniversary in 2011 I believe.
With any emerging field you are always going to run into stigmas and negative opinions but if you've shadowed a podiatrist recently you will see the medicine that they practice is the same as any other physician. DOs are still looked at negatively/differently by "old time" MDs as well - and osteopathy is also a fairly new field.
Podiatrists are motivated with the same compassion and improvement to one's quality of life than any other practicing physician. Its up to you to decide how important other people's false ideas are to your success.
You can still pursue a DO degree after your four years of podiatry school, some schools have a connection to the medical schools (like Barry) where this is possible. But throughout your 4 years in podiatry school that idea to pursue DO/MD might change for you!
The truth is as a podiatrist you are going to basically be a specialized orthopedic surgeon and I don't think I have to remind you of the income that orthopedics make.
The podiatrists I have see as a patient in the office have "Board Certified, Foot & Ankle Surgeon, Diplomate, American Board of Foot & Ankle Surgery, Fellow, American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeon" after their names. You can decide to pursue more of the surgery route as a podiatrist or the private practice/office life as a podiatrist...or both. It really is a great field.
Podiatry is absolutely an emerging field and I would't be surprised if more podiatry schools open in the near future and if the requirements for GPA and MCAT are more rigorous.
You are what you make of the field.