Lest you think your doctor doesn't care about your hours long wait (and no interesting magazines to be had): I heard an interview the other day where one doctor admitted one reason he doesn't like his patients to wait a long time. During that wait, he said, his patients will think of other things to ask about as well as the original problem such as a sore throat, etc. Often answering questions about these other things will take more time than the standard ten minute appointment.

Doc, I have a sore throat and bad cough and now I also have this pain in my butt from sitting on a waiting room chair for so long.