<p>The OP in this thread does bring up a very important point. The Collegeboard seems to get more schools to spend money every year on AP exams, and tries to always push more people into taking AP exams for “college readiness”. They have also been criticized several times for their poorly designed products that are supposed to help people prepare for college, but seem like they just exist as a way for the Collegeboard to get profit. These include the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT I, all SAT II subject tests, all AP tests, as well as all Springboard textbooks, which seem to have a lot of pointless activities where you learn virtually nothing. </p>
<p>Also, for the few who do end up placing out of freshmen undergraduate college courses, they might end up in shock due to the absence of the background of actual college courses which are better able to prepare them for more advanced undergraduate courses than AP classes and tests. In this view, most AP classes can be seen as a waste of time if the courses are watered down. So overall, I do agree with the OP.</p>