I don't disagree that wide on a fast lens is a useful tool - so long as that lens has decent (read non-irritating) bokeh. For me, it's just one tool among many - and not one I use all that often, usually as a way to direct the viewer's attention. As a mostly-landscapes shooter, I'm often looking for as much DoF as I can get without paying the softening price of diffraction. Other times I'm happy to let a shorter DoF (with closer plane of focus) provide some 'atmospheric' depth (a la Rowell - the man was gifted and gone too soon).

My point is that these are all tools, much as an oil painter has multiple brushes and spatulas.