I'm not a lawyer nor have I ever played one on TV, but I believe the voir dire process has turned our juries into nothing more than a "lowest common denominator" system. I think juries should be chosen on a random number basis, at least I would have a chance (like winning the lotto) of actually being judged by my peers.
In california the old Lawyer led voir dire process has been replaced by Judge replaced voir dire, as in the Federal process.
You are limited still to 6 peremtory challenges, and any number of challenges for cause.
I don't have a problem with it. The 6 gets rid of the unreasonable people (like me). The remainder are really pretty average. Think of the distribution of people, then pick 14 (12 plus to alternates) and then the 6 at each end. The 14 will be, with competent defense, pretty much in the middle, and reasonable. No PHDs, no cop's sisters. It is as good as you get.