Colin,
I am just basing it on my experience, and I feel strongly I should defend CL's.
In three years I would say I have been on only one below average CL site. The rest have been good to excellent. Most CL's have between quarter to an acre of lawn (i.e. not a field), good views, lawned and only 5 vans max. Yes you get a tap, waste area, and generally a toilet, but what more do you want? Generally, the owners are always happy to help.
Speaking to other caravanners over the past couple of years, a lot feel a bit let down by larger sites etc, but when you mention CL's their have this view of CL's like you said "a field at a back of a pub". In most cases this is so far from the truth. There should give it a go.
As I said, the three commercial sites I have stopped on have been expensive, lots of vans, noisy etc. Never again. Not really what caravanning is about, getting away from it all !However, I do take your point, I am sure their is are some good small commercial sites.
Getting back to original thread. If it was