there not over rated at all, for beginners they allow you to focus on form with high reps and isolating a particular muscle group very well, but for advanced people that many reps at a high weight really gets the muscles pumped and is an excellent way to start a workout.
that's just my opinion, however I did take the format from a fitness models workout and he's no beginner. In the end it all comes down to what works best for you individually, everyone has a different body, strengths, and weaknesses. when you first start working out it's all about trial and error if you aren't willing to try a routine or new way of doing things based on "beginner" stigmas then you're potentially missing out on what could have been your best work-out.