The short version is the electrician was friendly, gave good info about methods for future jobs and the work he did was fine, BUT the work was much more invasive than planned and took far longer than I'd budgeted for. There was no indication that this would be the case in advance and no mention of the permit fee (which would not have been required with my preferred, less invasive solution).
What I'd originally wanted was a quote for a larger job, and to have a small job done to at least make the minimum charge worthwhile. This job was not critical for me (relocating a light switch fro behind a door) and I wouldn't have had it completed (or at least not in the way done) if the price had been more clear up front.
While I believe the electrician was trying to minimize the damage to the wall, I would have elected to do it in the fastest way possible regardless of damage. As it was I ended up paying a lot more than planned for a job I could have done 80% given the eventual method used with a bit better communication.