I agree with you on some levels. And I experienced similar, after having had a view of AA that was formed by my earlier years... my mom carting me off to sit with the other kids in a room while the adults had their AA meeting, and watching oodles of men hit on my mom in the program; well I was not stupid, and I so I formed a view of AA that was rather unsavory. But it was the view of a child, and of an outsider, as she was the one in the program, not me.
There is one thing that I wish for the whole powerlessness concept... I wish that they'd originally articulated that concept as one of "acceptance" rather than powerlessness. I don't think many can see past the admittance of powerlessness, to get to the part where we find serenity in acceptance of the reality of our situation with this substance abuse problem/disease/disorder/condition. Because ultimately, I think it all hinges on getting past powerlessness and recognizing where we stand. In all areas of life.