Here are my 2 cents.

I think some parents go to that "tool" a bit too quickly and chances are they were hit when they were children. (we teach what we were taught)

I think its good for shock value when used sparingly but when it becomes overused it becomes useless and detrimental.

I am embarrassed when parents do it in public.
I wonder if it is because it happened to me as a child (but I dont really recall that)