Hi Gsw,
I agree that these immigration professionals are to guide us and trust me that is what most of them do - they tell people what is needed and how to get the same. They help around with creative ideas basis their multiple years of experience, which otherwise is not easy for a newbie to know. I am sure though not every employee at these firms is equally creative / intelligent and some might be less forthcoming or knowledgeable on subjects (plus sometimes they just know things basis past experience and aren't smart to acknowledge that CIC rules have been slightly modified on a topic) so they sometime give misleading information it seems. In trying to defend some of the good guys, I never mean to say they are perfect. They too come with their shortcomings, I am sure. But I also take the feedback of a few people who have all negatives to say about them, with a grain of salt, as it is not always a complete black or white - it is most likely a shade of gray.
But there are many people who hire these guys for expert knowledge, even after knowing mostly everything upfront (even though that seems very contradictory), so that there is complete peace of mind basis the review of experts on their file. On the other extreme, there are also folks that hardly know much (or are new to the process) but still don't hire a professional. And of course between these two extreme lies most of the cases.
I am not trying to dismiss your line of thought, as that is just one of the many valid ones. On such general topics, there is no right or wrong approach. Whatever works for one is fine, is how I look at this. Cheers!
