never argued with haste being useful just with SM. With haste effecting the whole party even with its diminshed effects it is a fairly effective buff spell. And one extra attack is something that stays good at all levels, so it doens't lose its bang for its buck unless everyone is equiped with haste boots.(ok it looses % bang since 1 extra attack on 4 is less a % boost than 1 extra on top of 1)
I haven't seen the 3.5 SM tables but the monsters in 3e just flat out suck at most levels. about their only use at low levels is to trigger traps that the rogue doesn't want to risk disarming. At higher levels like SM 6 they get a good combat utility, and some absurd (I'm sure weakened in 3.5) non combat utility monsters. The deva for example you could get it to cast spells like heal on you.