@TSTER I claim you don't have a clue what your talking about. Either that, or you are intentionally misleading them, and trolling in your post.
Recruiter's only get paid when they get a hire at a client company. So they should care deeply (if they like to get paid) about getting you hired. If that means helping schedule the interview or contacting the hiring manager to reschedule it is in their best interest to do everything they can to get you hired (if your qualified).
Recruiters are paid by a percentage of your salary. That said they would prefer to get the largest possible commission, but some money is still better than NO money so if they think your asking too much they should tell you.
it isn't in the recruiters best interest to waste yours or their time. Asking a price range is a good way to match up there jobs and the ones you might be interested in. Noone wants to waste time interviewing a candidate, or a for a job where the salary expectation are way out of synch. Recruiters who screw this up too many times don't get repeat business.
Recruiters are sales people, pure and simple. What they do is sell people to companies, they don't need to have technical experience at all, and most don't. What they need is to have enough charisma to close the deal.
If your experiences are different I suggest you stop using that recruiter, and if your a recruiter I hope to god you find a different career.
@ZAN My advice is too decide what you want early, ask alot of questions before you set up the initial interview, and learn how to say NO.