When I first started using IRC in late 2005 Halfop had already been around for quite sometime. I heard it had first started around the year 2000. I have become accustom to using it, but is it really neccessary?
In my opinion I think that it isn't a neccesity but more of a convienence for users. I think that it can be used in the "promoting" process from voice to op. I also think the different power levels are nice so it doesn't go straight from allowing to talk with +m to being able to ruin a user's experience on the channel. If it weren't there we could be able to get along just fine, but with it I think it helps out the channel a bit and spreads diveristy.
Tell me your opinion about Halfop's. I would love to hear them