I think that is the prevailing feeling among people earlier in their career......but the people doing the hiring are more mixed. For example, I think cover letters are a waste and many agree, but some hiring managers still look very unfavorably on someone who doesn't send one (beside the point - if you do it right and network and/or track down the hiring manager to contact directly, an informal cover/email letter is kind of unavoidable).
In general, follow-up from companies is horrible. Basically, if you don't hear in a few weeks then the position is on hold, canceled or they went with someone else. You should be asking about next steps and leave the interview with a decent idea if you'll be considered further or not.
I send a short thank you letter after an interview, even if I know it's not a fit. It's a pretty good read on where you stand - if they're interested, they'll usually acknowledge a thank you letter (in which case it's reasonable to follow-up after a few weeks). By the same token, if they liked you and you don't send a thank you they may take that as a lack of interest.
It literally takes like 5-10, minutes to write a decent thank you. It's hard not to perceive a lack of one as anything other than lazy and inconsiderate. Even a mediocre thank you at least shows you get basic business decorum, and were thoughtful enough to at least appreciate their time and consideration.
