We pay our interns the same rate as an entry level SWE, $185k, but divided up weekly for the intern period. There’s nothing wrong with internships at all.

You may mean unpaid internships specifically? I got my start when I otherwise wouldn’t have had an entry to my industry with an unpaid internship, but also recognize that it’s a privilege to be able to not be paid for months at a time early career. I would personally never not pay an intern, but think there is probably a place for unpaid interns.