General Thought/Question about Potions, No Spoilers

[jsmithqwert]

No: HPFGUIDX 66850

I was thinking about the whole "is Snape an effective teacher" thing 
that has been battered around indirectly on a number of posts and 
suddenly came to the realization that it doesn't matter because 
potions, as a subject, is generally (not always but almost always) 
excessive.  With very few exceptions, the various potions that we 
have read about so far are complicated and unduly awkward 
replacements for a much simpler spell.  For example, isn't the 
complicated "Draught of Peace" that Snape has the students make is 
really an overwrought, time consuming, and resource intensive 
substitute for a cheering charm.  

Even in what common sense would tell us is a very difficult task is 
more simply performed through wandwork.  Imposter!Moody tells us that 
using and Imperius curse to make someone answer questions is just as 
effective as Veritaserum, and while the former is just a simple wand 
movement and incantation, the latter requires a full moon cycle and 
(apparently) a potions master.  Same thing with polyjuice potion, 
which according to Hermeione is immensely complex: in GoF, she tells 
us that you learn how to do human transfigurations at the NEWT 
level.  Surely if it is possible to transfigure yourself at all, it 
is possible to transfigure yourself to look like someone else.

Of course there are some things that seem to require potions.  
Healing seems to be very potion intensive (Skelegrow, Hermeione's 
many healing potions at the end of OoP, Blood Replenishing Draught, 
dreamless sleep potion, etc. . .).  But no one but healers seems to 
prepare the stuff and, therefore, I would think that potions would be 
more appropriately taught at the vocational level post-Hogwarts.  
Obviously there are other potions (doxycide, magical mess remover, 
etc. . .), but they mostly seem to be products, and, as with healers, 
a vocational level "potions research" program would seem to be a more 
manageable method of instruction.  If there really is to much 
groundwork that has to be done for it to be post-Hogwarts, why not 
have potions be and elective course like divination or arithmancy, 
which seem to have as much practical use as potions does.

Many of the above points seen to apply to herbology as well.  I don't 
think we have yet to see a non-superspecialized example of magical 
plant use.  Sure there was the mandrake restorative draught, but 
that's pretty speciallized isn't it (must be if they couldn't just 
send for some from St. Mungo's).  Gillyweed goes the same rout as 
Draught of Peace: a bubble-head charm is just as effective and 
doesn't necessitate procuring in advance a particularly rare plant.

In closing what I apologize for being a (very) long post, I will ask 
a relatively simple question.  Why are potions and herbology 
considered "core" subjects that _every_ witch and wizzard needs to 
know pretty extensively?  What makes them worth pursuing to a great 
degree when there seem to be spells for almost all of their uses?  
I'm probably overlooking something and I'm quite sure that I don't 
understand the WW very well, but, what gives?  Any thoughts.

jsmithqwert