"But it also reinforces the idea that adults can't be trusted and aren't worth listening to."

Unfortunately, I would have to agree that in most cases that is absoolutely correct.

"One thing my parents did right was to inoculate me against television commercials by pointing out the different types of advertising pitches."

I've been doing that lately, particularly with Army commercials - you know they play thjem on the cartoon channel? The fuckers...