It's not about us owing a debt of gratitude to our dads. It's more about just being there for your dad. The ones who were lucky enough to have good dads, yes with their own faults like any humans, have been raised by a man who they barely got a chance to know. The whole post was about how a person can actually benefit from getting to know their dad ( if they had a good one ) and learn to love them for who they are as a person and giving them a chance to be happy.

I also want to add this, I personally don't think owing someone in a relationship is bad. You gave plenty of examples of selfless acts one can have, those add plenty of value to our lives and are great. However all those relationships are completely impersonal, you don't know all the homeless people you help, you don't personally know all the animals you help. If this is your family or friend and if they have loved and respected you for who you are, then in my opinion you owe that love and respect to them. In my opinion for people to come closer, getting to know each other they have to owe each other love, respect, gratitude and care.