Standard practice to include it, not standard practice to use it as security.

I agree with you. It adds little to no security to a Wifi network.

If someone is determined to hack in, it will do nothing. However, it probably *will* prevent the casual neighbour next door using your Wifi. Not someone hacking, just someone from "leeching" off your Wifi.

Not really a security feature then in my mind. If it needs to be secure then use one of the proper authentication/encryptions mechanisms (which you should be using regardless).

I suspect you will not get someone like this to back down since he thinks he knows all.

Does he also dock points for *supporting* WEP since that has known and fairly easily defeatable security flaws? His original logic should apply here.