Yes, if a doctor is good, you do matter to them. I know this. I work with many different doctors (72 at the moment,) and I can tell the difference between those that are the really good doctors and those that just see their patients, just in the brief communications through me (I sort all the orders and triage all the patients with diabetes.)

But, look at this also. this follows the lines of being a good patient.
http://psychcentral.com/news/2012/09...ity/45225.html

People put authority in places where it often shouldn't be, and that's a lot like politics and warfare, too.