See, I have this running argument with a buddy over this subject. I think those Seattle grunge major label bands like to pretend they were into the punks, but their songs tell another story.
It's fucking Strangehold by Ted Nugent. Think about it, there are like ten big hits from those bands that are just permutations of Stranglehold. Kill the Rooster and Bullet the Blue Sky come to immediate mind, but if you try you can list a bunch more.
It's much more radio friendly calculated standard rock songwriting than the punks were. Like you say, they wanted to make cash off their records, but I think it reflects who they were and wanted to be. Can you imagine H.R., or Ian MacKay, or Tad doing benefits and shit with Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young? As Johnny Slash would say: Totally different head, man. Totally.