Yes there are better ways to use <meter>. Maybe for showing the average rainfall in an area!
And the reason for dismissing the techniques in the past is because I have shifted to using HTML5. Even the theme I am using for my website, uses HTML5.
However, when I read it I get the feeling that you don't understand that html5 was the standardization of community-grown ad-hoc patterns. The <div id="footer"> pattern isn't evil, it actually inspired <footer>. It's the original! The standardization of bottom-up practices rather than a spec coming down from the mountain on stone tablets is what makes html5 unique.
Anyway, my point is that from my point of view, this is a bit too good-vs-evil. But, what do I know? ;-)
I agree to your points. I guess that my post was a little ambiguous and a little biased.
I liked the old way of coding, but HTML5 brought order.
And for the part where the id's have helped in giving rise to header, footer, nav and article. Yes, I do agree to all of it.
Thank you for your comments. Helped my understand my writing.