I find points far more useful than time based estimates. The trick is to use points like categories and not try to treat them as 1 point = N of something.
During my training the analogy was to categories of dogs based on size. So like a Chihuahua is maybe a 1 and a Great Dane is maybe an 8 (and there's 7 categories of dog size between them.) But a Malamute might also be an 8. Even though it's shorter than a Great Dane, it weighs maybe the same because it is more thickly muscled. But neither of those dogs is equal to 8 Chihuahuas.
The point being that if you categorize stories like this, treating point values as categories rather than as 1 point = N of X, then that makes pointing a lot easier and a lot faster as your team builds up a methodology (what categories your team uses and what they mean is up to you, it doesn't matter as long as you are consistent.)
This leads to meetings taking less time, and leads to a more consistent velocity than if you do something like 1 point = 2 hours or 1 point = something else rigid.
If SCRUM doesn't work for your team by all means you should abandon it. But, to me, it sounds like his team is using it badly. It sounds like they are being really rigid, and it sounds like a few adjustments could lead to a lot more happiness. But maybe not.
During my training the analogy was to categories of dogs based on size. So like a Chihuahua is maybe a 1 and a Great Dane is maybe an 8 (and there's 7 categories of dog size between them.) But a Malamute might also be an 8. Even though it's shorter than a Great Dane, it weighs maybe the same because it is more thickly muscled. But neither of those dogs is equal to 8 Chihuahuas.
The point being that if you categorize stories like this, treating point values as categories rather than as 1 point = N of X, then that makes pointing a lot easier and a lot faster as your team builds up a methodology (what categories your team uses and what they mean is up to you, it doesn't matter as long as you are consistent.)
This leads to meetings taking less time, and leads to a more consistent velocity than if you do something like 1 point = 2 hours or 1 point = something else rigid.
If SCRUM doesn't work for your team by all means you should abandon it. But, to me, it sounds like his team is using it badly. It sounds like they are being really rigid, and it sounds like a few adjustments could lead to a lot more happiness. But maybe not.