It should be noted that the sects which believe in the necessity of maintaining the apostolic succession tend to be those which can make a plausible claim to having maintained it. The ones who reject the whole sick mess are the ones who are out in the cold. As far as I know, the correlation here is about 100%. This may tell us more about theologians than it tells us about theology.
If this is wrong, don't tell me. An illusion, once shattered, should remain so; it's only right.