actually, without trying it, you can't say that it wouldnt have worked in your sitch or not. in this fella's sitch, it shocked his wife out of her fantasy world and now seem to be moving forward.
it worked for me, it's worked for plenty of others, we just get hushed up.
you're right that every sitch is different, exposing will not work for everyone, but all the blanket staments that it NEVER works is total horsepucky.