Yep, if jobseekers wish to apply direct to educational institutions rather than go through agents, that's fine by me.
But certain groups of jobseekers, such as those who don't meet the Z visa regulations in terms of their academic qualifications, or those who wish to take a chance by teaching illegally without a Z visa for whatever reason, or those from countries whose native language is not English, or those who are colored, may well find that agents can secure them jobs more easily than if they apply direct to Chinese employers. That said, I think that it is better for many jobseekers to avoid agents, but not for all!
By the way, I happened to check the guidelines you so kindly posted on the board. Just to mention here, before I forget about it, one scam that some Chinese employers try to dupe laowei with, if I may. Actually, it can make a substantial difference to your workload/and/or pay. Here goes: As a rule, when Chinese employers talk about 16 teaching hours a week, they don't mean 16 clock hours of teaching, but 16 teaching periods, where a teaching period may be 40 or 45 or 50 minutes.
But some employers will try to pull a fast one. One of my former employers had 18 teaching hours/week stipulated in my contract's appendix. Fair enough, I thought at the time. But later he tried to get me to teach 24 x 45-minute lessons/week, which he claimed was the 18 teaching hours mentioned in the contract I'd signed. I pointed out that teaching hours is not the same as hours of teaching, the latter being clock hours, NOT the former! Then I gave him 2 options:
1) 4200 Yuan/month for 18 classes/week, as per the original agreement or
2) 5600 Yuan/month for 24 classes/week, the increase pro rata, not at overtime rates, as I needn't adopt sharp practice.
He opted for the latter! Then I let him draw up an amendment to the original agreement, which both of us signed!