Sentence Correction

No matter how patiently they explain their reasons for confiscating certain items, travelers often treat customs inspectors like wanton poachers rather than government employees.
(A) travelers often treat customs inspectors like wanton poachers rather than government employees
(B) travelers often treat customs inspectors as wanton poachers instead of government employees
(C) travelers often treat customs inspectors as if they were not government employees but wanton poachers
(D) customs inspectors are often treated by travelers as if they were wanton poachers rather than government employees
(E) customs inspectors are often treated not like government employees but wanton poachers by travelers

f2001290 wrote:No matter how patiently they explain their reasons for confiscating certain items, travelers often treat customs inspectors like wanton poachers rather than government employees.
(A) travelers often treat customs inspectors like wanton poachers rather than government employees
(B) travelers often treat customs inspectors as wanton poachers instead of government employees
(C) travelers often treat customs inspectors as if they were not government employees but wanton poachers
(D) customs inspectors are often treated by travelers as if they were wanton poachers rather than government employees
(E) customs inspectors are often treated not like government employees but wanton poachers by travelers

"they" in the first part of the sentence refers to custom inspectors.
So, eliminate A, B and C

E uses "not like ... but ..." which is incorrect. Correct usage is
"not like ... but like ..."

D looks ok, though the "they" in D can be argued to be ambiguous.

A,B and C are clearly out since they have a misplaced modifier (its not the travelers who confiscate the items as the choices wrongly indicate, but the custom authorities)...Amongst D&E I would place my bets with D

Guys..HOW?????? D!! Is'nt "as if" usage considered wrong in GMAT??

A,B,C out.
D - they ambiguous
Ans: E.

I think the structure "not like last year, but good enought" is a correct example of not like... but
So E is my answer as D, the modifier "they" is ambiguous or ambivalent

In E there should be parallelism, like has to be repeated... "not like..... but like" So, D stands so far. Best among the whole.