re: Having a shitty grad school research advisor

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Is it ever appropriate to respectfully call him out on this or am I just destined to be taken advantage of until I finish this program?

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Switch advisors. Talk to you program chair/director/coordinator ASAP.

Don't call him out, that's a breach of protocol. But it is perfectly acceptable to switch advisors if you feel you aren't getting the attention you need to be successful in your field. Don't overthink it, and don't make it a big dramatic thing by gossiping about it.

Appealing to the graduate director and then the chair is always a choice, but since this is the person you'd be working with, that could prove toxic.

Best advice is to explain your frustrations to him and state plainly how his actions have affected you. There's no excuse for him to be that hard to schedule or to blow you off. No telling what's going on in his life, but unless you want to go through the trouble of switching advisers, being direct with him about the situation is the best approach.

EDT: I'm a prof myself at another SEC school.

We had a big-name, but complete a-hole, on faculty (since passed him off to an endowed chair position at 10rc. The chair's letter of recommendation for him to get that spot was two pages of complete bullshite that 10rc bought). He used to teach graduate classes with his back turned to the students. Anyway, he refused to meet with students, would return dissertation chapter submissions with nothing more than "This is crap" written across the front page, was completely rude to students, and even started locking classroom doors because he hated students being late (I don't like them being late either, but locking the door and having them knocking on the door outside was an even bigger distraction).

Anyway, the one PhD student who got somewhere with him (older student) did so by going into his office, looking him in the eye, and asking, "Is there something wrong with me or you? This isn't supposed to be how the professor/student relation is supposed to work." Once called on it, the guy was less of an a-hole. Still an a-hole, though.

Maybe he simply doesn’t like you and enjoys fricking with you and your schedule.

Delicate situation. I would advise talking cordially to him as others have said, pointing out the effects his actions are having on you. Base your actions on those responses.

If the response is positive, I would definitely give him another chance, but be on the watch for further similar behavior, depending on the explanation you get. Professors lives can be as complicated as anyone else's. However, there are those who have no business mentoring graduate students.

If you are dissatisfied with the response, I would consider changing advisors. Having an antagonistic relationship with your graduate advisor, especially a poor one, could be disastrous and I would not risk it. Perhaps someone else would still be able to direct you in the same research area.

I was fortunate to have a good relationship with my advisor, but am aware that clashes and some ill effects can occur.