Why am I cynical?

Yesterday, I spent the morning doing a child custody evaluation settlement conference.  I was shocked at how often I thought the the evaluator's suggestions would never work.  Child custody issues often seem to be based on power and a "screw the other" mentality.  So when the evaluator would express confidence that the parties could work something out, I was thinking if they could work it out we would not be here right now.  I understand the need to trust the other and to hope that everyone will act properly, but it seems that control and power seem to trump this need.  It would seem that it is in the child's best interest to not give control or power to either parent.  Maybe that is why there is a movement towards favoring joint custody.  This would then weaken power and control and force the parties to deal with each on parenting issues.  Parenting coordinators would also be helpful to keep the parents focused on parenting and not reliving their disputes.   What to you think?