Any form of plea bargaining which avoids a trial where the evidence is properly examined is a distortion of the legal process.

It might make life easier for the judges, and it might suit some accused people, but it still militates against the fundamental principle that people should only be found guilty where the evidence against them stands up in court, and that courts should make their judgement on the basis of "the whole truth" and not some doctored version that has been cooked up between lawyers.

"...it is rare that an innocent person is pressured into pleading guilty." What is the evidence for that? After all, it is not at all rare for innocent people to be convicted, even where trials occur and evidence has been heard.