There is truth in what you say. It's a strength and a weakness. As I watched people going in to the polls today I paid attention to how people used the lists of endorsed candidates they were offered. Some folks declined, since they already knew how they would vote.
Of the people who took the endorsement lists, I believe many just voted "as they were told". I heard several Dems talking about being confused as to how to interpret something on their endorsement list and wondering whether they'd "done it right" and "how they were supposed to vote".
Among GOP voters, I had several who seemed confused by the list, which I explained to them without pushing any candidates. I believe based on the outcomes that many people pretty much vote according to the endorsement list, unless they see a local candidate or someone very familiar.
It is very important to influence those party endorsements, and indeed to encourage a variety of constitutionally oriented candidates to run for office. Endorsements carry a lot of weight among voters on both sides. While people may debate and snipe, ultimately, many will line up with the party recommendations if only because they don't have time to do all their own research.
Ah, and there's the problem.
The majority of the people I've spoken with do not do their own research. Even the ones who are upset and complain about the state of the country and the way the politicians are running things know scant little about who is running, or what they stand for.
It infuriates me! Ignorance is destroying us!