Scott, I agree with what you said. I have taken the Epsom Salts for the liver/gall bladder cleanse and have never had a problem with it. No it doesn't taste that good but it is tolerable. I think it really has two purposes, one as a laxative and two, relaxing or opening the bile ducts. If the ducts are not open I think there would be a chance of a larger stone getting stuck. But I guess that others have had success without it. So who really knows what is the right way of the wrong way. I will always use it when I do the cleanse.
Maybe the Epsom Salt mixture tastes really bad if one uses chlorinated tap water. I mix it with distilled water an put it in the fridge. I think it goes down a bit better when it is cold.