You know one thing I did learn from being asked to be on interminable committees was to find out early on whether or not the group had been granted the authority to implement or make change or if we were just being used as a focus group or
PR function. You could pretty much figure out how much effort to put in based on the answer.
It still sucks. You see the problem, you know the problem, and can probably take (in most cases) the Occam's razor approach to problem solving and make life better. IF you we're given the authority to make and implement the fix. But nnnnoooooo.....you gotta play nice nice and show your collaborative side.
It does peak ones frustration.