I think that like many things, it is dependent on the actual vet. Some are very money orientated, some are more animal orientated (and pragmatic).
IME, you need to shop around to find someone you are comfortable with - not neccessarily the "cheapest".
I'm the vets nightmare owner from hell a "difficult" client because I am more "educated" about my pets than the average owner and can smell the bullshit and stay up to date with felid medical research, so question my vet.
The one I use (for the cats) is very experienced in his field (cats) and so in my mind, if he recommends something, then I tend to go through with the procedure. Over the years, this has meant that I've spent a lot of money with him! (Of course, having 9 cats doesn't help 
), but my cats have had what I consider the most appropriate care for them. As well as cutting edge stuff, this includes not vaccinating one cat because she's elderly, and not operating on another and giving her the minimum medical intervention care and concentrating on palliative care because an operation would not have improved her quality of life for the short time she had left.
At the other end of the spectrum, my dog was unwell. The vet I used for her started messing about with loads of different treatments because a) she was insured and b) he didn't actually know what was wrong. £5,500 with Pet Plan later and he claimed she was "fixed". So out of curiosity, I requested a copy of the bill breakdown. It was "interesting". He'd done things like charge £3.50 for a face mask to operate and charge £45 for a nurse to do a bandage change on her leg.
When I queried my dogs bill with my cattle vet (a different vet practice again!!), she said that the bill was a little "steep" for the items on it...
In 4 vet practices (in Cardiff), I found the quote for a dental for the same cat, was £350, £150, £563 & £254. However, the "care" in all 4 practices was very different. The first, was for my feline only vet (and was the one I paid because I know the vet and the way the surgery works). The second was an "economy vet" at a major Pet Store who has been in the press for not doing things "correctly". The 3rd was my dog vet and the 4th my cattle vet (both of which have small animal practices and comparable care).
My post has turned into a bit of a ramble, but my point is that it is in your interest to be educated about things relating to your pet so you can question about things you are not comfortable about. There are, like doctors and any other professional, awesome vets, shit vets and vets in it to make money.