RTA are good but require a few things to work properly:
1: The proper RTA must be chosen for the product being assembled.
2: the material must be strong enough to support the RTA anchor
3: the RTA setup must be proper (IE the anchor holes for the RTA in the exact spots)
4: there must be enough RTA anchors to properly support said pieces.
5: the end user must assemble the pieces properly without stress to the joint.
#2 #4 and #5 are the biggest issues. Some materials just aren't capable of supporting RTA. Some companies think 2 RTA anchors are enough for an 8 foot piece of wood.

but mainly the biggest "---smurfy---" furniture issues come with not properly assembling the items. Bending stresses on the parts during assembly is a big no no and causes the anchor to pull in directions it's not designed to.
RTS systems require...care. (for lack of a better term.)
I've made/assembled desks and other furniture at my old job using RTS anchoring systems for years and more recently my own furniture...including a giant ass 4 piece entertainment system stand....it really comes down to proper assembly and then leaving it the hell alone...dragging it across the carpet is a really bad idea. When I move (which I have done several times in the past 10 years since I've got it), I wrap it with shrinkwrap plastic and pick it up with a dolly. I don't try and pick it up sideways. I don't drag it around. I don't move it full of equipment. you know what? it's just as strong as the day I put it together.
People used to ask me to assemble the desks ahead of time, and then deliver them. "No. because it's not exactly moveable once assembled. it doesn't take moving well." then sometimes after I was asked to assemble them and then disassemble them again and repack them for delivery (i have no idea why) "No. Because once you screw in the anchors, if you remove them again the strength of the anchor hole has been compromised and this thing will fall apart"
RTS has it's quirks, has it's uses, but is also bad for some things. A piece of furniture you will never move. Great. A rolling cart with a big heavy item on it that you roll around everyday. Not so great.
EDIT - accidentally a word or 2 and maybe really been so far even as decided to use, even go want to do look more like something else.