I personally don't like mate centers too. I've been in one just once, but I exited quickly. The reasons of me disliking mate centers are because they cause horrible lag /as Nyota said/ and because you don't know anything for the person you are getting for a mate. It's much more interesting and it's better to get a mate from a RP.
But just because me and many others disapprove mate centers, doesn't mean they have to be ridded off. Just as we don't like them, others love mate centers, newbies for example, or illiterates /which are newbies also I think/. If the mate centers stop excisting, those new players won't be happy.
My final opinion is no. I don't think mate centers should be ridded off.