It really seems like if you, as a patient, go looking for a quick fix, that’s what you’ll be offered. And if you educate yourself a bit and then go t for the best fix for you, you usually get they.
I broadly agree though; about a decade ago I had the standard office worker low back pain problems which cleared right up after doing squats multiple times a week. Of course a decade later I managed to blow out a disc at the gym, which I still work through as I write this today, but well worth the risk in the long run. Even with that long experience of strength training, the PT was worth it even if it didn’t fix my problem entirely. It added some variety and pointed out some details I had overlooked to improve my shoulder health.
With calcifications, physio without the shockwave component definitely doesn't allow going back to the normal gym routine. It's just not enough.
Strengthening with PT kept the joint stable enough to stop rubbing and allow the inflammation to clear.
And as long as I stick to a regular gym routine that includes rotator cuff work, it doesn’t recur (and did the few times I lapsed).
But absolutely, PT doesn’t fix everything. Bit for a lot of things, it’s worth trying - but it might also means a lifetime of altered habits to keep whatever injury/problem from recurring.
In my limited experience, "If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail", rings particularly true with medical professionals.