While it's true that most of their funds have lagged in the last ten years (which happens on occasion, in which every single time in the above funds without exception they went on to outperform), those funds HAVE beaten the markets since inception, ESPECIALLY Growth Fund of America. That's after all expenses, loads etc. The ongoing management fees are always, always, always reflected in the performance of any fund. The load (0-5.75%) is a one time charge to pay for the advisor. If you don't want the advisor, you can get the same funds at Fidelity with no load (and no advisor).
Someone can argue about whether or not they will continue to outperform in the future. I think they will, but I understand the reasons people give for them not. But it's not up for debate: For the last 40+ years those funds have beaten the market. And their oldest fund AIVSX has been doing it for over 80 years.