I wonder. My uneducated thoughts were that originally, pilgrimages were done from the door of one's home, and were a journey with an intentional, spiritual intention behind the pilgrimage. It may have been as a spiritual petition, or as a penance. Thus, with those motives in mind, I can see some going by horse back, but my uneducated thought is that the vast majority went by foot on their pilgrimages. There was a distinct purpose. If one wants to summit Everest, summit Everest, challenge yourself. Climb x. y. or z peak. Go from point A to point B. But, again, my uneducated thought is that pilgrimages such as The Camino, were something intentionally completed with a whole different purpose, thus the Compostella. This seems likely to me (again, my very uneducated thoughts) to follow that pilgrimages were something of a religious nature. Therefore, it makes sense to my uneducated mind, that this would possibly be why there is a question as to the motive for the journey. Was it religious or recreational. Does a recreational walk make it any less difficult? It may, or may not, depending each individual's physical state. Does it make it anymore or less significant. My uneducated thoughts is that "yes, it does" and, "No, it does not." Personally, I think that the original spirit of the pilgrimage was one of a religious nature, so my uneducated thought is for that reason, "Yes, it makes a difference." However, again for those who want to make the trip to make a trip to a renown or known place, great, make it. Cut another notch on the belt, or make a special note of it, and take a photograph or make the special occasion in some wonderful and unforgettable fashion. But, personally, my uneducated opinion is that a person who gives "religious" as the motive simply to obtain the Compostella, well, I wonder...perhaps those individuals should do some internal reflection on pilgrimages, and what they are all about. If those who make them with no religious intent are fine with telling someone or an office that they made the trip with religious intentions in order to obtain the Compostella, in the original intent in which they are offered, well, all the best to them. I just have to wonder though, as a person who is religious, how does that sit with one's conscience after words?
In the Army, we used to laugh about people who would get caught doing the dumbest of things, like wearing a Ranger Tab or some other military qualification on their uniform to which a person was not entitled to. In the service, those who wore things on their uniforms, which they were not entitled to were known as "PX / BX / Clothing Sales Rangers." It was just incredible and unthinkable to most Soldiers that others would simply, and quite literally, walk into the clothing sales store, where uniform items were sold, and buy whatever item it was, and put it on their uniforms. In conversations about these individuals who eventually, are always caught, (and always had to answer some uncomfortable questions afterwards) the rest of us, and especially those who had earned the particular award which the other had chosen to simply put on their uniform, simply wondered why a person felt like they had to do that. Was it because they had such low self esteem that they wanted others to take notice of them? What was it? Were they a person who had a need to have others think great things about them? Why would someone put themselves in that inevitable position of one day someone asking, "Hey, how did you get or how did you earn that?"
Personally, I am Catholic and therefore, I personally believe in the Last Judgement. I do not want to have to give an accounting for being a "PX Ranger." I think that my personal choice, when I make my pilgrimage during the next jubilee year, it will be the entire route, and for personal religious reasons by foot. I too hope to be able to obtain a Compostella, so that I might have it to recall the journey, the pains and the joys of my personal journey and hope the merits, whatever they may be, may be an acceptable offering to Him.
Whatever your motives, may you have a safe and wonderful journey!
Deseandoles un buen camino,
jeff
and i will reply back to your other comment after seeing my dr and physio tomorrow cheers mate 
When I once said to my son "you and your mate", meaning his girlfriend (now his wife) he went ballistic and told me it sounded like I saw her as his bricky friend.
