Depends on how you want to look at it. All types of sparring at all levels are useful if they are incorporated into a training program correctly. Sparring at only 25% allows the student to functionalize more tools and experiment more. where as the higher levels of contact test the student's ability to cope with stress and contact more. All of the students that I have had in the past have sparred at all levels of contact and the quality level I see from them in comparison to students from other schools is much higher, not only skillwise but functionally speaking as well.
Heavier contact does have it's place but it has to be integrate it with other training modalities and contact levels.
Something else to think about... Muay Thai. Muay Thai produces some of the most dangerous stand up fighers on the planet, but if you look at the way they spar in thailand you'd be shocked. The sparring is very light and relaxed... the number of injuries is very low during sparring. They do it to develop skill and flow. Plus, since most the the fighters end up fighting once every week or two, they can't risk injuring themselves during training.
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