This is another great topic Thompson. I couldn't agree more with you and Ron about this. Too often the CB does become an impediment to the creative process... robotically authored by an AE to fulfill the requirements of the creative process without having a true understanding of the client's brand. The trick is to seamlessly unite the key brand stakeholders on the client side, the brand strategist on the agency side (if one exists) and the creative team to ignite the creative MAGIC. If that can't be done face-to-face then it can still be accomplished in real time with help from today's modern technology. Without this important interaction, the true meaning behind the brand gets lost too frequently. 

Ron, I'm also big fan of Marty Neumeier's "The Brand Gap." Excellent read!