I am not sure how to respond to your comments.
I only have a few thoughts worth passing on.
I don't beleive rumors. They have a bad tendency for not being the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. There is often some basis, but usually not enough to make them worth bothering with.
I do think the APMA (and the schools) have a responsibility to the profession and I think for the most part they have good intentions and are working on sorting through the various issues. I don't know if you are aware of what CPME is doing with residencies. If not, you will surely be haring about it soon. For more info you might want to take a look at apma.org/cpme and follow links to document 320. This is the proposed changes towards standardizing the residencies. I haven't yet had an opportunity to review it thoroughly, so I cannot comment more. It appears to be a step in the right direction, but I expect it will take some itme to implement. As far as them having a responsibilty to ensure placement with an experienced podiatrist I disagree. Finding a position after residency is mostly up to the individual. Not everyone will want to work with an "experienced" podiatrist. Some will want to open their own private practices, and others will be looking for positions working in a group practice. Lots of options, and at that point it will depend on what each individual wants to pursue. That is my opinion. Others may think differently, but I don't think there is any implied responsibilty for any organization to find you a job.
I do think they are working on making podiatry more visible to the general public (and to otehr professionals). There is a lot of work to be done here, and I think they are working on it. Get involved and help move things the way you think they should go. It is a relatively small profession, so individual opportunities to make a difference are out there.