You pay their salary through "embedded commissions." The 2.5-3% buyer agent fee has historically been baked into the home price, preventing you from negotiating purely on asset value.
They define "Market Value." By controlling the comparables (comps) data, they effectively set the appraisal baseline for the entire region.
The MLS system is designed to introduce friction. You cannot just "buy" a house; you must navigate their procedural gauntlet of showings and offers.
Encourages suburban sprawl. The commission model incentivizes higher-priced sales, pushing development toward luxury single-family homes rather than affordable density.
The Verdict: The "Fiduciary" Conflict. Agents are incentivized by the closing price, not the best fit. The higher the price, the higher the check. The structural incentive is inflation.
The "Gold Jacket" Illusion. They project an image of elite professionalism, but the barrier to entry is a short course and a multiple-choice test. It is sales, not consulting.