Yes, but the same happens to the UPSIDE as well,... the same positioning, posturing, "manipulation", etc..(but, as I said earlier, we hardly hear any complaints about MM's when the trade is moving in an investors favor....at least I haven't)
The key is KNOWLEDGE. Learn all you can about what they do & WHY!!! Then, with that understanding it is easier to discern being on the "right side of the trade".
Your point however is not lost on me: Back in the day, the MM ("auctioneer" was necessary "to make the market"); however, with today's technology it is not so easy to make a case for them "being essential"; except to say the establishment is NOT LIKELY going to let that GRAVY TRAIN GO!!!
Plus, in all honesty, the system & "technological infra-structure" (investments) were supported by many of them so one could argue a "right".
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