Is Dragons Den for real?

Every business owner, financier, entrepreneur and many others are familiar with the BBC program Dragons Den. The obvious bullying of the well heeled panel is obvious, but have you noticed the acute need of the panel to protect their dignity by getting in the 'I'm Out' before they may be excluded by the needful inventor themselves? Are they really that insecure? Perhaps many of the rich are - they certainly don't want to appear in any way weak. I just wish they would consider their provision of private equity more fairly. How can they attempt to value a company by conventional metrics when in most cases the company is just starting out - an idea that may be genuine and have some promise (although many appear to be otherwise)? Do they think the candidates are stupid? After some maturity, a company may be measured in such ways, but not in the early stages.