Years ago, when Costco's buyers actually used to select some good automotive items to stock, I picked up a car wash bundle with microfiber drying towels, and a noodle wash mitt. (Still using an Costco Accutire digital tire pressure gauge from many years ago, like
the one BMW sells as its own, except mine has a zero calibration button. But I digress…)
Since then, my venerable collection of chamois have remained in their stiff, crusty state, lonely and unloved, along with the crappy P21S synthetic drying towel that was a bust from the start.
The Costco drying towels are deep pile, about 3/8-1/4" thick, and can finish a mid-sized car needing only to be wrung out only once. They absorb and hold so much water, it's actually kind of difficult to wring them out by hand. Also great about them is that they'll do a good job on windows, so those are attacked first, and don't need followup attention. Just grab and go, no pre-wet and soften routine like the chamois required.
There are different types of microfiber towels, and they differ in quality as well.
To condemn all microfiber, especially based on a poor or limited experience, is short-sighted, and not self-serving.
We all have out likes and preferences, and there's nothing wrong with tried-and-true.
But, technology advances, and as time goes on, I'd rather devote less time and energy to detailing. Things like MF towels and modern spray coatings make that possible.