SJS, a good deal depends on how often you follow the Rov’s advice. If you decide pretty much everything on your own, but go to the Rov once or twice a year, I have no doubt that you will not see much seyata d’shmya from it. It’s the people who rely on their Rov for everything that find out how valuable daas torah is.
Everyone can make mistakes, even Moshe Rabbeinu did. But how many people make as few as he did? The point is that if you think that your mistakes are on the same level as the ones a Rov makes, well, you’re making another mistake 🙂
As for your comment about Chassidus, I see that you have no idea what Chassidus was like originally, or what the Rabbonim had against it. I never met a Chassid who rolls in the snow, or refuses to learn anything but Mussar all day. Chassidus evolved, and with that evolution it gained acceptance. Lihavdil, do you realize that modern day capitalism is not pure capitalism, as Karl Marx made some very good points in his manifesto. Capitalists decided to adopt some of his ideas in order to keep the workers from throwing off their chains. Aren’t you glad that you don’t have to work 14 hours per day and live in a hovel?