You'd be surprised how many people get mad at me for having rigid ethics like that claiming that I'd scream a different song if I were ever in such a situation (I wouldn't).
I mean... I've always been pro-closed borders (no immigration, only raw materials, tourism and education travel is fine) . But nowadays, I'm a Nazi for that. Nevermind I've always felt that way and haven't seen anything really worth changing my opinion.
Sorry, I'm ranting.
No need to apologize, we need more folks to say those exact things.
You're right that they get abused and used as a tool to get the defendent to confess by piling on lots of chargers otherwise. But they exist for a reason. Should we punish two people equally if one confesses and cooperates fully (thereby saving the victim emotional distress of going to court and minimizing government expenses) and another defendent who refuses to cooperate? If they get the same punishment, then there is no incentive to confess and cooperate--whether on your own case or another. I'm not sure what a fair system would like like honestly.
I always thought plea deals were a subversion of the law. You either did something illegal or you didn't. You either cooperate or you don't. It's like getting a coupon for a restaurant who had a clod of hair in your soup. Why would I want a discounted meal from a place that served me wretched food? Is money supposed to change the fact that I nearly choked on a human hairball?