For an $1,100/month apartment in NYC, a $15k fee is worth it, even if you have to take out debt for it.
Honestly, I don't mind brokers. I think many people feel wronged by them because of huge bills for little perceived work, but they're not exploiting any monopolies or regulations to exist, like say for example a lot of trade workers do. If you're concerned about NYC housing you should be advocating for ways to make more housing, not killing the market with rent stabilized units and regulations.
Example of why price controls on goods always seem to produce shortages of that good. Solving issues on the supply side is generally a better idea than fiddling with market prices.