The ropes are definitely being overdone since they are one of the newer "fads" in training but I have ropes and they are actually useful, just not overdone. HIIT circuits for core work with rope slams, side to side rope slams, punch combos with the ropes, etc. but almost purely explosive core work, my ropes weigh over 40 lbs though, those little light weight ropes are pretty useless imo. But the jump rope is used every single day with everyone in the gym, the ropes make up about .05 % of total training time.