The blocks are the easiest method to have a decent static lightning.
Thats why they are still useful. Especially for indoor scenes.

For outdoor levels they are pretty much replaceable with
models.

Some small recent games of mine:
Griefer 4k http://damocles11.byethost9.com/griefer4k.html
Kobold 4k http://damocles11.byethost9.com/kobold.html
Cave 4k http://damocles11.byethost9.com/cave4k.html