Again, "one way or the other". If a writer doesn't have an agent who provides these services well, writers will have to spend their own time and energy on those

Again, "one way or the other". If a writer doesn't have an agent who provides these services well, writers will have to spend their own time and energy on those endeavors, even if only to cultivate and manage direct relationships to other (editing/marketing) professionals. Many writers don't care to do any of that and can be well-served by hiring on someone else to do it. Surely, some, or even many, agents aren't doing particularly great. But that's no different than any other provider of a service. Most may suck, but that doesn't mean the whole category is of questionable benefit. It's actually a huge positive sign that they're at least recognizing the deficiency and trying to reposition themselves. It means they'll be eager to become even better at the things that writers most-need in the new landscape.