It sounds like you just have bad info or bad experiences. We had to buy our house sight unseen with only virtual walkthroughs. Our realtor was extremely honest and pointed out every potential issue, even stuff we wouldn't have noticed since it was online (like if a house smelled funny). We had a great experience and knew exactly what we were getting into. I don't doubt there are shady realtors and groups out there but it's dangerous to paint any group of people with such a broad brush.