We can all laugh at family tribes but the fact of the matter is some have dominated worlds for lengthy periods of time take !?!.F on w35 for example they held rank 1,3,5 for months in middle game before their duke quit.
I'm fairly sure that most people will agree that family tribes are effective and useful middle and late game. It is just early-game where they are unnecessary, and deserve to be laughed at.
I dont know about that, over-used-internet-meme. After a certain point, the spear nukes reach a critical mass and the family tribes become unstoppable in the early game.