Actually they're more relevant now because some of the "good" seats are blocked by BS and A-list, and because of the subdivided boarding groups.

In other words, if you checked in 30th in the old system, you got a better seat than you do today if you check in 30th. So now you really want to check in #1 since a bunch of people are already automatically ahead of you.

No doubt the reason Southwest shut down these sites was in anticipation of the boarding policy changes. They want the only way you increase your odds of a good seat to be by ponying up extra $$$ or travel to them, not to Kate.