First of all, for people who are not supposed to tell others what to think they write more Gospel interpreting books than any other Christian group. What is a book but telling people someone's opinion, and trying to gain their approval?
Second, they don't just read the Bible. They INTERPRET it. What they call a "church" (and I am talking about non-liturgical Protestants), is basically a sermon -- and a show. The preacher gets on the stage and starts telling you what is what and who is who. he doesn't say "The Lord says 'Be therefore perfect...'", they interpret what that means for the audience -- and sometimes it's thousands of people in an auditorium or even a football stadium. No one is talking to himself and interpreting; all they do is wave their hands and say "Amen." Talk about brainwashing!, while saying that each man is a pope. What a joke.
Third, how did the illiterate masses "read" the Bible of Luther's day? They didn't. It didn't matter if it was in Latin or in German. The Germans couldn't read, save for the noble and small middle class.
So sola scriptura was shoved down everyone's throat at the pleasure of the minister who held the key to God's words by being the literate among the illiterate.
Protestant message is "I don't need anyone; I just need a Bible." Yet they are the ones who make the largest congregations!
Also, it strikes me as rather self-contradicting to tell another man, "don't let others tell you what to think." I mean, really
Of course, but they don't see their own folly.
I would agree -- I really think those TV evangelists do tarnish the image of Christianity. Again, it's not a blanket condemnation of all Protestants. It is as you have put forth -- if a group keeps saying that one should not follow Church elders and yet follows 'preachers' what can one think? I've known people jump from 'house church' to 'house church' as they didn't like the pastor or had a minor tiff or something. Their organisations are person dependent. Tomorrow, if I go to a Catholic mass in Flanders or in England or in Italy I know I will receive the same gift, join in the same celebration etc. If I go to an Orthodox or a Catholic-Eastern church I can sense the same majesty and the traditional ceremonies seem strangely familiar. These are NOT person dependent, not dependent on the parish priest, this is the Church as a whole