[optforfon]

Just a different perspective: maybe give other doctors more of the benefit of the doubt? I have a family friend who's I guess what you'd call "on the bell curve" and he described to me the process. Basically he says that the representatives are paying for the doctor's time/attention with fancy dinners and whatnot. Doctors are busy people and can't read about every drug and study that's being released. He, just like you, takes in the information skeptically and ask for what studies have been performed etc. etc. Like you say, the representatives aren't scientists so often they won't know the answer and they will take notes and have their company send the doctor a custom made document answering everything he wanted to know (as you know, the marketing budgets are insane).

It's sorta similar to the function congressional lobbying is supposed to fulfill. Ie. It'd be ideal if the congressmen/doctors did all the research themselves but that's not possible so you basically have a whole research team at your disposal (who's agenda is very obvious...)