if you believe they're still around or not... why are they so often abused by people? they certainly make an argument against them seem easy.

In my experience it has been emotionalism and ignorance mostly. I think there is some incorrect teaching that is involved as well. Thankfully there are not too many extremes; or perhaps I mean that things could be a lot worse.

It depends on what you mean by gifts.

all of them.
any of them.
whatever you mean by gifts.
a gift for teaching
a gift for hearing from God.
tongues etc...

when anyone says they "wont speak unless they hear from God" then we have no choice but to listen to everything they say as though they are inspired words.

if someone prays in tongues and there is no interpretation then they should NOT have spoken aloud.
but they do anyhoo..

when someone "has a gift for teaching," they end up being horrible preachers and killing perfectly healthy churches...

WHY? what is it about our "gifts"... or understanding of our own "gifts" that we use to destroy instead of edify the church?

dont get me wrong, they all can be used appropriately, but why are they so frequently abused?

I dunno,

I've not had the experiences that you posted about.

I have been to some churches that teach every Christian can speak in tongues and if you don't then you're not saved. This of course counter to what Paul wrote about. I don't want to get into that whole tongue debate here and now but my point is this: I've heard of and known a number of people that just mumbled mumbo-jumbo so they could fit it at those churches. That seems like an abuse to me.

As for teaching/preaching/faith and any other gift. I've not seen any major abuses or ill fitting people to ministries. Also many people misdiagnose their gifts, some want to be teachers yet God has clearly given then a different gift. yet they ignore the leading of the Holy Spirit and instead force the use of a non-gift. The result is like a square peg in a round hole.

I've been blessed to be involved in a number of churches that have had really great and gifted people serving God. We all need to realize that if we attempt to work in the flesh to please God its going to fail but if we rely on his gifts, his power for his glory, it will not fail.