Some scripts are fairly easy with a built in feature to add meta description, keywords, etc. I don't think the keywords help in the meta header. Better to use the keywords on the actual page content, title, etc. Other scripts are a pain in the rump to add them, if that is the case I wouldn't waste much time with them. Meta description will just show up in a search result exactly as you want it to, rather than the search engine grabbing a snippet or bit of text. You can be more specific this way. Meta descriptions can easily be deceiving though. You really could make a meta description that had nothing to do with your site or page content, sorta of tricking or duping a visitor into something your site or page is not.
I would say yes they are still important. Why? Because the algorithms that all the different search engines use are not the same. What one engine may not use may be used by another. There are hundreds of search engines out there and not all of them are anywhere near as sophisticated as Google. So everything you can throw at your SEO efforts is worth it. How long does it take to do your meta-tags? not long. But the potential benefits in terms of SERP ranking could be immeasurable, if not today then maybe the next time google or other SE's change. So why not spend 5 minutes getting it in there.
Meta tags of a websites pertains a great importance from Google point of view. Entire chemistry and algorithms of Google are designed by keeping in mind the generic importance of meta tags.
no major search engines never looks on meta keywords but meta description is very important for website ranking.
Google does not care about meta tags.Yahoo,ask and other miner SERPS bring you good traffic if you optimise your keywords.
I don't know really. I used to use them all the time. Now I make pages without meta's and still get the same PR ranks.
Even though they are not that important, as per others are saying, I still have them i my site. It wouldn't hurt me if I have it, right?