Hey Whabbist have you read this experience of Sufism from Hassan?
http://abooali.wordpress.com/chapter-3/Hassan if you're reading this that was a great chapter. It mirrors my thoughts on Sufism now. The Shaykh was presented as a surrogate parent with divine authority, and I actually did Kiss the hands and feet of a Shaykh.
Towards the end of my life as a muslim I became annoyed with myslef that I venerated another human being to that degree, and I questioned how humble can someone really be (as is proclaimed by followers) if they allow other human beings to kiss their hands, and treat their every word as truth.
I was involved with the Naqshbandi Haqqani Tariqat intially, but then 'checked out' other tariqats. I found it funny that every Tariqat considered their head Shaykh to be the Sultan of awliya - every one I came across. I'm even talking to a family member who converted, who told me the same thing about his Shaykh.