Well, I think the objective is to show how you can get by without some survival gear after getting stranded in the wilderness. In one show Les had a motorcycle and it "broke down" leaving him stranded, etc.
It amazes me to see the number of people that show up with nothing, as Susan pointed out. I recently went on an organized hike, about 60 miles from the city with a group of about 10 people, the leader and I were the only ones with daypacks and gear. The rest had what they were wearing and a water bottle and some snacks. No means to make fire, keep dry or get warmer. Since it was drizzling on and off before and during the hike, it was interesting to see people start a trip without essential gear. It was like they were on a park trail in the city. If any emergency were to arise, it would have been the trip leader and I taking care of the rest, if possible. If I had been the leader, they all would have went home before the start of the hike!
I think Les' idea is to show how one can get by using gear salvaged from broken down planes, snowmobiles, motorcyles and so on. I agree it would be good to show some alternatives, perhaps list items that should always be carried when traveling in remote areas or comment on how people should do this or do that to make a trip safer. But overall, it is a good excercise in getting through a particular situation. The fact that someone with survival knowledge can pick up on mistakes or to comment that they would do better shows me that it is getting a message across to some viewers. There are tips in the show and there are mistakes made and overcome. Just as it may be if you ever find yourself stranded. Survival is not all gear, it is a combination of knowledge, skill and determination, Les sure demonstrates that on each show. Myself, after one adventure like that, I would be at a Pizza Hut, a hot shower and a foot bath, with a plan to never do that again! Les is detrmined to experience it all and let you watch. There has never been a perfect survival show, there probably has never been a perfect survival situation, just some people do the right things and live and others do dumb things and die.
Many well equipped wilderness travelers do not survive the unexpected because they lack the right skills or attitude.
Myself, I like the show and admire Les for his fortitude and skill.