The late hunts in AZ are tougher than early rut tags, but compared to many other States, I wouldn't rate them nearly as difficult. There's wayyy less hunters than a general area in MT, WY, ID, CO, etc. and way better bull to cow ratio's. Way more mature bulls as well.
Good glass, hiking boots, and realizing that you aren't hunting an early rifle rut tag will get positive results. I think the biggest reason for failures on the AZ late hunts are people that don't understand how bull elk behave that time of year. The other is I think many arrive with unrealistic goals. Killing a solid 6 point that isn't busted up should be the goal.
I've hunted 2 different AZ areas on late hunts DIY (although with some good information from a friend there) and took 2 nice 6 points, the biggest of the 2 was 356 gross, and if unbroken would have been around 370.
As far as elk hunting goes, those hunts are not really all that tough, IMO.