I don't know that I've ever felt they really didn't work. I do think they should be unnecessary (i.e., if you have to tell me which character's POV this is, then you probably haven't done a good job of characterization). But I keep seeing them, and wondered if maybe people expect them.

There's one story in particular, I think maybe by mournthewicked? that had lovely and memorable name dividers, hand-writing-style on lined paper. I liked them; it added to the feel of the high-school AU.