I think you're right Summit Chaser in the sense that it is stupid if people use these techniques w/o understanding them and solely because they see others using them.  
  
These techniques in and of themselves are not stupid or even unsafe, however. For example, I climbed with a 5mm tag line for a long time and if rigged right on a rap anchor is as safe as any other system, even if it is a bit of a pain in the ass.