So, taking the question at face: Yes, we still do use
counterspell. As we all know in commander groups, there's someone who will play a card no matter how odd or bad it is.
In my own opinion: This question can't be answered in anything nearing an absolute, as our entire format is based on group dynamics and personal enjoyment over hard rulings and power levels.
In my own opinion, after I smack the academic and philosopher out of my thought process: Yes, I love
Counterspell. It's UU to counter any spell. There's few better counter spells when looking at it in the
void and none of them are anywhere near as cheap as this card.
Is it objectively worse then:
Mana Drain,
Force of Will,
Force of Negation,
Fierce Guardianship .....? Yes, no question. That being said the vast majority of players are not willing to spend the money for them or are willing to spike their play group by using them. Thus, this card fills that need. If you're in a really fast meta for your playgroup then cards like:
Spell Pierce,
Miscast, and
Mana leak better? Yes, no question. However most commander decks are not that low to the ground that it only takes 1 or 2 early spells getting countered to end their game. Most players, if they have some experience anyway, won't tap out for something in M1 unless they don't care if it gets countered or they can't do anything about it anyway. Are there counterspells that do more for you like:
Dissipate,
Summary Dismissal,
Rewind,
Desertion ....? Yes, no question. However, those spells generally have a CMC of more than 2, making it a bit awkward to hold the mana for unless you have a
Vedalken Orrery effect.
The repetition in that text wasn't for its own sake. The big reason why most people still use
counterspell is because it falls in just the right place for most needs. It's not expensive or spikey. It's not too fast or too slow. It isn't too narrow. It doesn't give anything to your opponents. If you want a
counterspell for a deck, but don't know which one your deck needs; you can always put in a
Counterspell and swap it out later. Although it's a hair unfortunate that it's UU, but if that's the biggest complaint I have; I'm happy to play it!