Architects are required to have a fairly intense knowledge of the construction process. This enables them to design, detail and write specifications for buildings that can actually be built. Throughout the process, one of the roles of the architect is interpreter, between the client, the designers, the engineers, the builders and everyone else involved. Another lesson to be learned here is cooperation. The architectural process is easiest and most successful when everyone involved in the process gets along.
Many architects have reputations for being prima-donnas and very difficult to work with.
This makes everyone else on the team miserable and less willing to do a good job. I can see similar animosity growing between IAs and Engineers and Graphic Designers. I hope that this does not happen. The best work is done when everyone is respected for his or her knowledge and no toes are stepped on. Yes, many architects have been pushed out by builders, and the results are horrendous.