Nicely written article.
I too have found temporary tables to be invalueable. In fact, I learned the technique by reading the query plans. When I saw SQL Server creating a work table I understood that to be a way of breaking down the work.
There are times when I know better (go figure) than the query optimizer how the data is distributed. In those cases I have found that temporary tables can radically outperform any other method available. Indeed, I have even found that temporary tables can out-perform table variables.
Most of the topics for the links you referenced were for obscure issues with temporary tables. I have not found contention or radically reduced issues since SQL 2k with the creation of temp tables. Especially since MS fixed the SELECT INTO bug. The other issues dealing with Identity columns or BCP into a temp table are rather esoteric.
I say use them if they work...and many times they work well.
Cheers,
Ben Taylor