I've sold twice, and both times the agents gave me a range to offer at based on how long they thought it might take to sell. They were very much "on my side" so to speak.

I think the thing your example overlooks is the power of referrals. The happier you are with them, the more likely you are to refer friends and family to the agent when they ask you for a trustworthy recommendation. Like any sales gig, a network of happy customers takes time to build and is where the real money is at.