I have fished with several well respected guides on different lakes and saltwater as well and I can tell you that James is one of the best. Unfortunately none of the guides can make a 10 lb+ fish bite someone's line but they can put you in the best opportunity to catch a fish like that. My guides have always tried to put me in the best position to catch fish and they would rather see their client catch the biggest and most fish.
I see post like this on here and wonder why you would hire a guide if you don't want them to fish at all? Most including James won't fish if the bite is good. But when it gets tough or if there is only one person in the boat, it is a good idea for them to fish to help locate the fish and try a different lure and/ or technique to try to get a pattern going. Fishing can change from week to week, day to day, or even hour to hour.
I hire a guide to learn a new body of water, learn new techniques, learn how to better use my electronics, learn different patterns, and how to improve a technique that I already know. How many times have you fished in a boat with someone throwing the exact same bait and watch them real in fish after fish while you can't buy a bite? Maybe they are fishing it slower, faster, more erratic? That's why I want my guide to fish, so I can watch his exact presentation and try to mimic it.
Whoever hires the guide can decide if they want him to fish but make sure you tell them beforehand so you are not disappointed the rest of the day. But I think you will be missing out on some very important lessons if you do. Better yet, just pay the guide to be a follow boat or pay them for some spots to fish if that's all you want to learn.

I see your all your points. I personally do not like guides to fish. I probably should have started a new thread. In my opinion the guides are usually a better fisherman than the clients so they are going to catch more fish.