Dittos?

So many schools have gone to dittos and printable writing sheets/ math worksheets, "activity sheets" for the letter/number of the week... While wrote memory activities may be suitable for older elementary/middles school students.....what are your thoughts on these "old-school activities"? Are they developmentally appropriate? Do they encourage social emotional, cognitive growth? How do they empower "real world-problem solving strategies?" What are your thoughts on these "wrote-memory" activities for young friends?