We all know Google doesn't like duplicate content. So what is the value of syndicating your article? Does that not send the same sort of content to tons of platforms? Would Google not notice it? And would they place value on the link if the content it the same across hundreds of site?
Google is still going to index duplicate content if it's published on old, established, authority sites. So you get backlinks. You should spin your articles before submitting them to low quality article directories though. Much better chance to get them indexed.
Read this article to get a good understanding of duplicate content and its effect or not on article syndication => Duplicate Content
Even if duplicate content were an issue, you still get the backlink from those multiple sites, plus you can get traffic from people on those sites reading the syndicated article.
I would suggest not to waste time in syndicating articles. The reason is that in 4-5 months they drop out of Google index.. Only a handful or article directories remain indexed
Care to explain more about your views, just being negative is easier, but substantiate it with proof. Article submissions are one of the best ways to generate backlinks and of course, no link stays with value until and unless you add content continuously, and if anyone thinks that one way links is going to help (as all those hardselling SEOs would like to convince you), well it only helps as long as you keep getting them day in and day out. Rather diversified links are what you need to get, the more diversity you can apply to your links the more better and easier is to your rankings. So go ahead build links of all kind and article submission is no different.
Might be difficult to convince you since you have a article syndication service going on in DP. However I just told my experience. Maybe these links will help http://www.seowizz.net/2009/11/mass-article-submissions-are-not-worth-it.html http://www.seobook.com/archives/002322.shtml