If you've ever done B2B sales, a Literary Agent is basically a Buyer. And, like Buyers, Literary Agents are not monoliths. Some are personable, with well-developed senses of humor and engaging personalities - some are not.

Like Buyers, Literary Agents have "buying criteria" and "open-to-buys" that they must adhere to if they want to keep their jobs. "Open-to-buy" is simply a restriction on what agents can buy right now! They may have too many Romance novels at the moment, or a glut of Epic Fantasy books, etc. It doesn't matter what you as a writer think about that - it's just the way it is.

A Literary Agent only has ONE job - to sell to a publisher for the best fee he or she can negotiate. Representing you is just a means to an end. A good agent will work more angles than just a traditional publishing deal - movie houses, events, theater ... areas you may never have considered. You want one of these agents.

As a Writer, you may think that your job is to write and edit a great book. It is not. Your book is your passion, your raison d'être, or at least it should be. Your JOB is to successfully pitch to a Literary Agent so they can work their contacts to get a deal. Sure, you can self-publish, but that comes with a whole other host of problems and challenges.

Literary Agents ARE the gatekeepers. They know it, and you should know it too. Be nice to them, they have a job just like everyone else.