My argument for treating prisoners better than children (at least in regard to being paid for working) is that once you leave prison, you're likely in a really bad situation unless you have money to help with the transition.

Finding a job is tough as an ex-con. Your support network may well be gone, or it may be entirely composed of people who enabled you in the first place.

Most kids have years of supported, gradual transition from unpaid chores to fully-independent adults, although there are obviously exceptions to that. I feel really badly for kids who enter adulthood from foster care.

Are you arguing for child labor or are you just unintentionally doing it?

> ...more preferential treatment...

I don't see this position being articulated here. Can you help me understand how you read the people disagreeing with you as saying that?