a lack of imagination from folk not making up their own routes probably bugs me more.
My view fwiw, is coloured by living a long way from the UK both physically and in terms of the reliance that can be placed on mapping. It's only when you start properly exploring an area such as that where I now live that you realise how great OS mapping is. We have detailled mapping down to 1:10,000 and I've got all these within a 50km radius of here. The problem is the lack of defined rights of way so a track may trundle along for several km then you meet a locked gate or fence with a snarling dog on the other side and have to back track.
One of the main reasons I put together the C2C ride is to give people the chance to ride a route that I know is challenging and remote without having to guess whether several hours riding up a big hill might finish up at a dead end. There aren't many trails that have 1 gate in 1,000km!
Of course this doesn't happen by accident and requires considerable time and effort in recceing. Some people might consider recouping the cost of running about but I decided early on to suck it up and enjoy the exploring.
There's a bikepacking event that is 700km down the length of Cataluña which offers a sag wagon, gps tracking, transfer to the start as it's a linear route and a riding shirt, the entry fee is €400 and it seems to be growing in popularity with about 50 riders taking part. There will always be the money rich time poor brigade that go for this type of thing.
I realise it's a big commitment in terms of time to plan a weeks trip abroad but the lacklustre response to me asking for interest in this year's trip has been disappointing. Maybe the post Brexit meltdown that's been predicted is a factor but whatever happens I'll be there in Tarragona in May even if it's only me I've got for company.(I'm used to shouting at myself)