earnings guidance not as extensive

Since I started investing I've always shaken my head at the quarterly guidance game, which seems to be played extensively. (Who cares if you the mid-point of your own guidance (which analysts home in on as their point estimate) by a penny?) Of course, it's always been concentrated among larger companies and these are disproportionately mentioned on CNBC. Speaking of CNBC, Herb Greenberg has some interesting statistics here that elucidates just how extensive (or not) this practice is.