i think its very fair to say that any fighting art is "usefull" if you have the benefit of sparring or having contact with other people in a fighting situation. just having the experience of interaction gives you a tremendous advantage over those who don't.
other than that... anyone that thinks a particular style is better than another is naive or inexperienced. more important that the style being teached... is WHO is teaching it. people can suck or kick ass in any style depending on who taught them and depending on their own character.
