mahaberio

I've heard microtones used very effectively (see Michael Blake Watkins and Scelsi) and I've often heard them used gratuitously by immature composers (mostly exciteable students). Either way, they're useful to learn how to do and I've found that the most important step in performing them effectively is to hear them. As far as applying some kind of microtone technique I think it would be a waste of time as every piece I've come across that uses them uses them in a very specific way and, if the composer is courteous, they're fairly easy to do if you can hear them.