The nafka mina is in the intent; one person gives chessed leshem his avoda zara…chessed leumim chatas, and a yid gives it for Hashem. Same action, different reaction; the oved avoda zara is punished and the oved Hashem lehavdil is rewarded. And yes, the opportunity to make a kiddush hashem is gevaldig – i remember once a guy ended up on the cover of the new york post because he returned a ton of money that he found in a desk that he bought at a yard sale; his obviously frum appearance was everywhere.
What would have happened if he would be dressed as a modern orthodox jew with a name like morris? Would there have been a kiddush hashem for everyone to see on the cover of the paper? Something to think about
I was saying that even if we accepted the meiri, which we have no reason to do, it wouldn’t apply in most cases…maybe it would in your location.