Oh I so agree. All you have to do is read Henry the IV and Henry the V - where Prince Hal leaves his friends in the lurch. The tragic character of Henry the V is Falstaff and in some respects the true lead of both plays. There's an underlying social and political criticism in Shakespeare's plays that is lost on a lot of the adapters and interpreters. They forget the time period - the Virgin Queen whole ruled with a fairly iron fist, and many at the time felt should marry and let a guy rule. Women couldn't even perform on stage. I think Shakespeare much like Jane Austen and to a degree Dickens - did heavy social commentary in their works, which is lost on a more modern interpretation.

Also, keeping in mind who the plays were generally performed for.
The plays were performed for the masses. And often not considered..worthy of the middle or upper class.