Why not just team up with a publisher? They submit the app using their Apple ID, they help with marketing, reviews, etc. They get a cut of the profits, but it sounds like it would be worth it in your case.
I guess if it comes down to that, we're now back to the bad old ways of publishing software, what a bummer.
Middle men only exist when they add value to the equation, except in extreme circumstances. People that want to do everything themselves can do so, but they may not have the resources (time, skill, or money) to be effective at all that stuff that would otherwise magically happen. I just submitted my first app to the App Store on Sunday (yay, review time!) and as I was doing so realized there was a ton of stuff I had never really considered.
Can you link to an example of these publishers? My Google-fu fails me.
You're right, it was very difficult. I guess this type of publishing is only common with games, but Chillingo does say they publish non-games as well.