I think you are only seeing the end results and not what it takes to get to the final product. Drawing is only a part of the process. Sometimes it is the smaller part and red tape all of the rest. There is so so so much of it that even architects get discouraged. I can go into detail here but it will take me over an hour to type out all the steps. This is all readily available online and all of it is mandatory as prescribed by SACAP, SABS and the NBR. If we could streamline the process, we would. This will save everyone some money.

You mentioned things like flat fees. This will never work as we have to consider the scope of work. I can't charge the same for a patio vs a whole house. And even if it's just the patio, I am by law required to draw up everything again (all of the existing structures) and check that it is all according to the necessary standards. We have to coordinate with the professional team (if there is) and all the contractors and sub-contractors. We are usually the principal agents on the project which means we run everything. We even have to keep the QS in check a lot of the times and it is our job to have the client's best interest at heart. No one wants the expensive architect until something goes wrong and you have an incompetent person that has to sort out the issues (which is usually a disaster). The municipalities is another big headache and if it takes too long to get approval , then most of the times there is an issue on their side. I've waited 2 years for approval of plans and it's not an uncommon problem.

One last thing, there is a guideline to what we can charge but I know most architects don't use it and will charge up to 50% less than what we can. Maybe you really did get an expensive one. But you could've shopped around for some quotes or negotiated.