I think the theme of many of the responses is two things: One, does everything our ‘outdated’ Chazal (chas veshalom) determined for us still hold true even in the 21st Century. Second, if we don’t understand something our Gedolim (of past and present) institute, are we obligated to accept it.
There are many sources for reasons to drink on Purim, and even to get as drunk as some may consider to be ‘gross’.