There is a lot of shaper talent out there in the golf world. My favorite shapers to work with are those who treat everyone on the project as a peer. We all have different duties, designers design, shapers shape, and we build, but every job is important and while compensation will vary based on the fact that some talents are more scarce than others, every task matters, and every person performing those tasks deserves respect. With the best shapers I've worked with, the above is a given and when that happens a strong team can deliver clients great value. But as Tom alluded to, some have an inflated opinion of their impact on a project.
I especially like working with shapers who have worked up from installing irrigation, drainage, and then finishing. To me it's like custom home builders who perform every tasks and know they have to work tomorrow on what they left behind today, vs the assembly line approach where a different crew performs each task. The best shapers are like custom builders because they know the way to success, and more opportunities, is building great forms that can be completed efficiently and function. The guys who have been on a job from beginning to end, often as a design associate managing the job, while also shaping are a treat to work with, and even tho they can be super fussy and tough sometimes, the motivation behind that is never in question.
Jeff, IMO, good shapers take all that into account, especially drainage and golfer circulation. One thing I wish I could get shapers and designers to pay a tad more attention to, especially in the south, is shade on short turf. There is no such thing as shade tolerant bermuda grass. Some varieties just thin out earlier than others.