I guess people still use them because they still sell them.

And do the students lose? You damn betcha. Can you imagine a book of puns with nothing but the punch lines?

Seriously, they lose the ability to tell the difference between good and bad writing. You become uncritical.

IMHO the only way to become a good writer is to read a LOT. So when you don't read you seriously undermine your ability to write.




TEd