I think you guys are spot on in your assessment
I do not see anything wrong with parents paying to play on travel teams. If the player enjoys it and playing more will make you better. I think the problem is with the expectations of the parents partly due to being ignorant about the college recruiting process and not really knowing how to navigate it. Thus the "travel coach" comes along with all the answers, or at least he knows what the parents want to hear.
The first thing one has to do is make the grades in high school, very important. If that hurdle is jumped then get out a map. Draw a circle as to how far you are willing to go to attend college. Then target schools in each class D1, D2, D3 etc... that you would be willing to attend if you were not playing baseball or had to stop.
Play high school ball, heck play travel ball, take lessons, but your sophomore year go to Perfect Game and get an honest eval of your talent and projection. They sometimes miss a kid, but for the most part they are the best in the business.
Once you know the level that you can play at target those schools with emails, and maybe a camp.
I say again 99% of high school players do not fully understand the commitment to play college baseball. Now if you are in the top .5% then yes "they" will find you....
try and remember
1.) get recruited
2.) commit
3.) sign NLI
4.) get accepted to the school
5.) maintain and 2.5 gpa for NCAA
6.) make the team in the fall
7.) make the travel team in the spring
8.) get on the game roster
Its long way to the if you want to rock and roll
too many parents think that if a college coach watches you play then that means a 100% scholarship