Tons of videos from then are only available in those resolutions, and I don't think it's productive to close the tab any time you encounter a video from 2007 or 2008.
The average screen resolution in 2007 was 1024x768. Most of us now have ~1080p-ish type screens or on mobile where it's even higher. We also now have the bandwidth to watch 720p/1080p videos whereas in 2007 that was less true to a broader audience.
360p is pretty unwatchable for me on my screen from 2011/2012, let alone anything that's been released in the past 2 years.
I also know a lot of people who just start a playlist with music and leave YT in the background the whole day. They don't even have that tab active in the browser.
http://www.h3xed.com/web-and-internet/youtube-audio-quality-...