Those quests where I am clearing out an area for a drop off point seem very pointless. Are they endless, can I avoid them?

I was wondering this too.

Are you talking about the Randolph Safehouse quests? They are not endless, they tell a story about the Railroad but the reward is a little weak. PAM has a few quests that seem like they repeat but are well worth doing. Tinker Tom's quests are numerous but again have a finite (but high) number.

If you need more specific information, the wiki will help or post in the Hints and Spoilers forum.

I think they are worth doing although the different factions tend so send you to the same locations but for different reasons.

By doing the radiant quests I did discover some places that i hadn't been to before.

I think that's the point of them, really.

Just so I can record this:

Tinker Tom: 10 Quests(could be nine). They don't seem to tell any story, but are quick if you have high sneak.

Randolph Safe house quests are 6 in total. After completing the 6th one, you'll learn the fate of the safehouse.

Theres 6 Randolph safehouse misions.

3 PAM missions (do these ones, its how you get the ballistic weave IIRC)

1 mission from the guy who shows up when you set up a new safehouse (mercer I think)

2 butchers bill missions from the doctor

11 weathervane missions

I dont think there are any infinite quests from the railroad like there are with the minutemen (freedom radio or Preston) or brotherhood (recon team in the police station)