Lot of truth there. We also did not like when the tour should last whole day and guide push you waking up at 7am so "you arrive early" and at the end whole tour finishes at 3pm and your guide has half day off paid for.
With all the info available out there it is best to plan your own trip and learn something more in the process. We also enjoy it better at the end, when some kind of effort must be put into the research.
Also befriending a local is always great idea, there are helpful, nice people everywhere...