Here's my ethical defense of eating meat.

Everyone and every thing dies, and in the larger scheme of things it matters not one bit. I'll make peace agreements with others where I see a benefit, and if I can trust that the other sees enough benefit to hold up his end of the bargain. Other than that, I see no reason to not participate fully in the full range of barbaric behavior the universe allows. Don't blame the player, blame the game. There is no referee who watches over to pass judgement either way.

“I will do barbaric things so long as there are no adverse consequences to me personally” is not really an ethical defence of eating meat.

Yes it is. It's just not ethics you agree with. But that's the great thing with ethics, everyone gets to pick their own. There's no right or wrong, just opinions.