I miss having it as a resource though I use it every day. You used to be able to find kernel devs and contributors on #kernelnewbies, now I ask an actual question that isn't a simple Google and I get flatline response.

I do still use it for some communities, our LUG, a few Foss projects and the catv people

Netsplits still suck, nickserv constantly forgets me, but overall it works.

And yes, irssi is still the worst and only irc client I use

Most bounce problems can be fixed with a screen session on your VPS you already use to host stuff.

Upsides include great logging, idle chitchat and a chance to real time communicate ideas and hash ideas out when a ML doesn't work