[malbiniak]

It sounds like you've worked with, at best, mediocre user experience designers. In my experience, a good IA never creates wireframes or comps. They rely on data (or testing when no data exists) to make meaningful associations and groupings of content. They use those learnings to help the uxd rationalize placements and flow through a ui. They work with content strategists and copy writers to maintain that structure as the site or application matures.

A good IA is really tough to find, and it's disappointing to hear engineers undervalue that role. It's typical from clients, but engineers I know that have worked with a good IA turn into advocates going forward.

And no, I'm not in UX.