Agreed, Sapling. I haven't said a word against AA, but to your point, perhaps I should say something positive about it.
In my limited experience as a non-AA person, I have been impressed by the individual successes I've seen achieved through AA. I've never understood the desire to knock it. I've never understood the desire to knock any approach.
But whatever. If someone scoffs at AA, or dismisses AVRT, or discourages someone from attempting any path out of addiction, well, I guess that says more about that person than it does about anything else.