Define better.
In some ways, dealers can make it easier. Doesn't mean it's better fiscally for consumers. A local dealer may have arrangements with finance resources that can get people financed. (Doesn't mean the people should be buying that car if special hurdles are necessary to get them into a car.
Dealers can also deal with trade ins.
So for some, a dealer can get the consumer in a car because they have some special local advantages. Doesn't mean it's good for the consumer.
For those who have an 800+ credit score, can come in with a pre-approved draft and have no trade in, the dealer is much less valuable. There are still places where they can help. When we bought our 2017 Rav4, we couldn't get it exactly the way we wanted it in Illinois. The Toyota dealer knew that the distributor for Tennessee got cars the way we wanted, an XLE, FWD, Tech Package, no leather. (oilBabe is not a fan of leather seating)
So that dealer's knowledge was useful given what we wanted.
But that could also be done by Toyota if they could get out of their regional distribution agreements.
Frankly, I doubt the carmakers want to get out of their dealer arrangements. You and I are not customers of GM or Ford or Toyota to name a few, the dealerships are. They don't have all that messy day to day contact with the end user of the product. They are shielded by the dealers.
If a dealer consistently makes the carmaker look bad, the carmaker can cut back on the desirable cars they get and/or ultimately fire them as a dealer.
While many of us would love to cut out the dealer middleman, seeing little to no value in what they do, apparently the carmakers see the current environment as advantageous. Or, at the very least, the upside of dismantling the dealership model is not worth the effort from both a business as well as on the legal front to deal with state laws and dealership franchise agreements.
The key take away is that you are I are not customers of the car makers, but of the dealers who sell the cars. As soon as you realize this, a lot more makes sense.