John Staeck,
 
You are correct in saying that most of the archaeology today is being done by
CRM firms.  Unfortunately, we are still acting as though archaeology is an
amateur lark done by tweady university fellows.  Until we start supporting
professional organizations with our time and our money, this will continue,
and along with it will continue the lowballing and other nasty things that
are going on.  Until we take ourselves seriously we will not be taken
seriously by the public.  We must police ourselves, because if we don't
someone else will.
 
Tom Wheaton
usual disclaimers